A sexual assault survivor confronted Kelowna Mayor Colin Basran about his confidence in the local RCMP during a city council meeting on Monday night.
Heather Friesen, who was allegedly raped when she was 15 years old, has been extremely vocal about her disdain for the RCMP and the mayor after Statistics Canada revealed the city害羞草研究所檚 police force deemed almost 40 per cent of sexual assault reports as 害羞草研究所渦nfounded害羞草研究所� in 2018.
害羞草研究所淭he survivors in this community who are too afraid to report because of the reputation of the RCMP in this community are not just anyone,害羞草研究所� Friesen yelled at the mayor and councillors after the meeting ended.
害羞草研究所淚 had the courage to stand in front of your office and call you out by name. And, when you apologize, all you say is anyone.害羞草研究所�
The mayor tried to offer Friesen a meeting, saying he害羞草研究所檇 be glad to meet in his office, however the offer was drowned out by Friesen who continued to yell.
害羞草研究所淵ou know where I live, you know who I am,害羞草研究所� she said while making her way out of the room.
害羞草研究所淗ave the courage to come to me. I shouldn害羞草研究所檛 have to beg you.害羞草研究所�
READ MORE: Protest planned against Kelowna RCMP害羞草研究所檚 high unfounded sexual assault numbers
READ MORE: 害羞草研究所楽teeped in rape culture害羞草研究所�: Sexual assault survivor speaks out against Kelowna RCMP
Last week the mayor issued an apology to 害羞草研究所渁nyone offended or hurt害羞草研究所� by his initial reaction to the statistics.
害羞草研究所淭he number of local sex assault complaints deemed to be unfounded is deeply concerning and I know the local detachment is taking this matter seriously,害羞草研究所� wrote Basran in a Nov. 15 statement.
害羞草研究所淚n retrospect, I should have waited for the results of an investigation into the matter before expressing my opinion.害羞草研究所�
Basran said that while the RCMP operates independently, it is the city害羞草研究所檚 responsibility to ensure matters concerning citizens are being addressed.
He has also directed staff to stay in close contact with the RCMP on the issue until a review is completed.
害羞草研究所淚 support what the Kelowna RCMP has done in response to this new information from Statistics Canada 害羞草研究所� starting with an internal review and a subsequent request to have the RCMP害羞草研究所檚 Sexual Assault Review Team at national headquarters review the 2018 and 2019 files. That review will determine RCMP next steps,害羞草研究所� wrote Basran.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 my understanding that the RCMP will report out once the investigation is complete and I害羞草研究所檒l wait until that happens before commenting further.害羞草研究所�
For Friesen, the mayor害羞草研究所檚 apology 害羞草研究所� while a start 害羞草研究所� was not enough.
害羞草研究所淎pologies are not sincere when you apologize for an offence given and you don害羞草研究所檛 recognize why they are offensive,害羞草研究所� Friesen said in an interview last Friday.
害羞草研究所淎gain, Mayor Colin Basran害羞草研究所檚 privilege is keeping him from recognizing why his comments are so offensive to survivors of sexual assault.害羞草研究所�
She said she hoped he would be willing to meet with survivors of sexual assualt and discuss the larger issues at hand.
害羞草研究所淩ape culture is a driving force in Kelowna by the RCMP, the community at large, and by him. We need to start combatting it,害羞草研究所� said Friesen.
害羞草研究所淗e needs to recognize how he contributed to it and how he can help stop it.害羞草研究所�
Friesen also made a plea to other sexual assault survivors to come forward.
害羞草研究所淚t doesn害羞草研究所檛 matter if it害羞草研究所檚 in the last two years,害羞草研究所� she said.
害羞草研究所淚f you have been mistreated by the RCMP; if you are part of the 40 per cent 害羞草研究所� who cares if it was 10 years ago? Start speaking out. Demand better for the next woman. I can害羞草研究所檛 do this alone.害羞草研究所�
Friesen also left a flyer at the council meeting for an upcoming protest against the Kelowna RCMP.
The protest will be held in front of the RCMP deatchment on Richter Street on Saturday, Nov. 23 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
michael.rodriguez@kelownacapnews.com
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