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 citysa国际传媒檚 police force deemed almost 40 per cent of sexual assault reports as sa国际传媒渦nfoundedsa国际传媒� in 2018.
sa国际传媒淭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,sa国际传媒� Friesen yelled at the mayor and councillors after the meeting ended.
sa国际传媒淚 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.sa国际传媒�
The mayor tried to offer Friesen a meeting, saying hesa国际传媒檇 be glad to meet in his office, however the offer was drowned out by Friesen who continued to yell.
sa国际传媒淵ou know where I live, you know who I am,sa国际传媒� she said while making her way out of the room.
sa国际传媒淗ave the courage to come to me. I shouldnsa国际传媒檛 have to beg you.sa国际传媒�
READ MORE: Protest planned against Kelowna RCMPsa国际传媒檚 high unfounded sexual assault numbers
READ MORE: sa国际传媒楽teeped in rape culturesa国际传媒�: Sexual assault survivor speaks out against Kelowna RCMP
Last week the mayor issued an apology to sa国际传媒渁nyone offended or hurtsa国际传媒� by his initial reaction to the statistics.
sa国际传媒淭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,sa国际传媒� wrote Basran in a Nov. 15 statement.
sa国际传媒淚n retrospect, I should have waited for the results of an investigation into the matter before expressing my opinion.sa国际传媒�
Basran said that while the RCMP operates independently, it is the citysa国际传媒檚 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.
sa国际传媒淚 support what the Kelowna RCMP has done in response to this new information from Statistics Canada sa国际传媒� starting with an internal review and a subsequent request to have the RCMPsa国际传媒檚 Sexual Assault Review Team at national headquarters review the 2018 and 2019 files. That review will determine RCMP next steps,sa国际传媒� wrote Basran.
sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 my understanding that the RCMP will report out once the investigation is complete and Isa国际传媒檒l wait until that happens before commenting further.sa国际传媒�
For Friesen, the mayorsa国际传媒檚 apology sa国际传媒� while a start sa国际传媒� was not enough.
sa国际传媒淎pologies are not sincere when you apologize for an offence given and you donsa国际传媒檛 recognize why they are offensive,sa国际传媒� Friesen said in an interview last Friday.
sa国际传媒淎gain, Mayor Colin Basransa国际传媒檚 privilege is keeping him from recognizing why his comments are so offensive to survivors of sexual assault.sa国际传媒�
She said she hoped he would be willing to meet with survivors of sexual assualt and discuss the larger issues at hand.
sa国际传媒淩ape culture is a driving force in Kelowna by the RCMP, the community at large, and by him. We need to start combatting it,sa国际传媒� said Friesen.
sa国际传媒淗e needs to recognize how he contributed to it and how he can help stop it.sa国际传媒�
Friesen also made a plea to other sexual assault survivors to come forward.
sa国际传媒淚t doesnsa国际传媒檛 matter if itsa国际传媒檚 in the last two years,sa国际传媒� she said.
sa国际传媒淚f you have been mistreated by the RCMP; if you are part of the 40 per cent sa国际传媒� who cares if it was 10 years ago? Start speaking out. Demand better for the next woman. I cansa国际传媒檛 do this alone.sa国际传媒�
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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