Several sexual assault survivors and their allies took to the sidewalk out front of the Kelowna RCMP detachment on Saturday to voice their concerns surrounding Kelowna害羞草研究所檚 high number of unfounded sexual assault reports.
As first reported in the 害羞草研究所 on Oct. 25, Statistics Canada data shows the Kelowna RCMP classified almost 40 per cent of sexual assault reports as unfounded in 2018. That number is more than double the 15 per cent average across the province and dwarfs the under five per cent averages in Vancouver and Victoria.
The protest, organized by two local rape survivors who had their reports deemed as such, Heather Friesen and Aden Withers, called for better officers, training and an external investigation of the Kelowna RCMP. Currently, the RCMP害羞草研究所檚 Sexual Assault Review Team is in the midst of reviewing the numbers.
害羞草研究所淭he RCMP can not investigate itself,害羞草研究所� said Friesen.
READ MORE: Protest planned against Kelowna RCMP害羞草研究所檚 high unfounded sexual assault numbers
READ MORE: Kelowna mayor apologizes for initial reaction to sexual assault statistics
Donning signs reading, 害羞草研究所渞ape culture lives here害羞草研究所� and 害羞草研究所淩CMP serves and protects rapists,害羞草研究所� among several others, the protesters chanted at Kelowna RCMP building. 害羞草研究所淲e represent the 40 per cent, we represent the 40 per cent!害羞草研究所� the group of around 25 shouted towards the detachment.
害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e here protesting the rape culture within the Kelowna RCMP,害羞草研究所� said Friesen, who was allegedly gang-raped when she was 15.
害羞草研究所淚 have had multiple women come up to me and tell me that the RCMP aren害羞草研究所檛 even willing to take their statements. The 40 per cent unfounded isn害羞草研究所檛 a true representation of what害羞草研究所檚 going on. So, I don害羞草研究所檛 believe 40 per cent is true 害羞草研究所� I believe it害羞草研究所檚 higher.
害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e not here about me being raped; we害羞草研究所檙e not here about any of these women being raped. We害羞草研究所檙e here about the RCMP not doing their jobs.害羞草研究所�
Withers came to the protest with a red handprint painted on her face, representing missing and murdered indigenous women, a group which she said is heavily intertwined with and targeted by rape culture.
害羞草研究所淚 was targeted because I was part of the Aboriginal ministry,害羞草研究所� she said.
害羞草研究所淏eing targeted even with the white-passing privilege that I have opened my eyes to how Indigenous people of Canada are truly treated and it害羞草研究所檚 disgusting.害羞草研究所�
During the rally, Withers spoke of her experience reporting to RCMP, citing the brutal and victimizing questioning she endured, in which she was asked if she was 害羞草研究所渢urned on害羞草研究所� while she was raped.
Friesen, who has been very vocal since the numbers were released, taking on the RCMP and even the mayor, said she holds no shame regarding what happened to her.
害羞草研究所淢y rapists hold all the shame, my friends hold all the shame, the RCMP hold all the shame,害羞草研究所� she said.
In a Nov. 8 statement, the Kelowna RCMP said it could not provide an explanation as to why so many cases were deemed unfounded.
害羞草研究所淲e understand that there are many questions about the roots of these statistics, and we害羞草研究所檙e taking immediate steps to get answers,害羞草研究所� said Cpl. Meghan Foster.
害羞草研究所淭he BC RCMP has conducted a preliminary review of these files, but we are currently not in a position to provide specific examples of why any of these investigations were deemed unfounded. For every investigation, there are many variables 害羞草研究所� each investigation is different and we do not want to deter any other survivors from bravely coming forward to report a sexual assault.害羞草研究所�
The RCMP has not given a timeline as to when the Sexual Assault Review Team害羞草研究所檚 investigation will be completed.
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