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91ƵWe represent the 40%91Ƶ: Protesters swarm Kelowna RCMP over unfounded sexual assault reports

The protest was organized by two local rape survivors who had their reports deemed unfounded

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 Kelowna91Ƶs high number of unfounded sexual assault reports.

As first reported in the 91Ƶ 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 RCMP91Ƶs Sexual Assault Review Team is in the midst of reviewing the numbers.

91ƵThe RCMP can not investigate itself,91Ƶ said Friesen.

READ MORE: Protest planned against Kelowna RCMP91Ƶs high unfounded sexual assault numbers

READ MORE: Kelowna mayor apologizes for initial reaction to sexual assault statistics

Donning signs reading, 91Ƶrape culture lives here91Ƶ and 91ƵRCMP serves and protects rapists,91Ƶ among several others, the protesters chanted at Kelowna RCMP building. 91ƵWe represent the 40 per cent, we represent the 40 per cent!91Ƶ the group of around 25 shouted towards the detachment.

91ƵWe91Ƶre here protesting the rape culture within the Kelowna RCMP,91Ƶ said Friesen, who was allegedly gang-raped when she was 15.

91ƵI have had multiple women come up to me and tell me that the RCMP aren91Ƶt even willing to take their statements. The 40 per cent unfounded isn91Ƶt a true representation of what91Ƶs going on. So, I don91Ƶt believe 40 per cent is true 91Ƶ I believe it91Ƶs higher.

91ƵWe91Ƶre not here about me being raped; we91Ƶre not here about any of these women being raped. We91Ƶre here about the RCMP not doing their jobs.91Ƶ

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.

91ƵI was targeted because I was part of the Aboriginal ministry,91Ƶ she said.

91ƵBeing targeted even with the white-passing privilege that I have opened my eyes to how Indigenous people of Canada are truly treated and it91Ƶs disgusting.91Ƶ

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 91Ƶturned on91Ƶ 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.

91ƵMy rapists hold all the shame, my friends hold all the shame, the RCMP hold all the shame,91Ƶ 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.

91ƵWe understand that there are many questions about the roots of these statistics, and we91Ƶre taking immediate steps to get answers,91Ƶ said Cpl. Meghan Foster.

91ƵThe 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 91Ƶ each investigation is different and we do not want to deter any other survivors from bravely coming forward to report a sexual assault.91Ƶ

The RCMP has not given a timeline as to when the Sexual Assault Review Team91Ƶs investigation will be completed.

To report a typo, email:
newstips@kelownacapnews.com
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