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 city91裸聊视频檚 police force deemed almost 40 per cent of sexual assault reports as 91裸聊视频渦nfounded91裸聊视频� in 2018.
91裸聊视频淭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,91裸聊视频� Friesen yelled at the mayor and councillors after the meeting ended.
91裸聊视频淚 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.91裸聊视频�
The mayor tried to offer Friesen a meeting, saying he91裸聊视频檇 be glad to meet in his office, however the offer was drowned out by Friesen who continued to yell.
91裸聊视频淵ou know where I live, you know who I am,91裸聊视频� she said while making her way out of the room.
91裸聊视频淗ave the courage to come to me. I shouldn91裸聊视频檛 have to beg you.91裸聊视频�
READ MORE: Protest planned against Kelowna RCMP91裸聊视频檚 high unfounded sexual assault numbers
READ MORE: 91裸聊视频楽teeped in rape culture91裸聊视频�: Sexual assault survivor speaks out against Kelowna RCMP
Last week the mayor issued an apology to 91裸聊视频渁nyone offended or hurt91裸聊视频� by his initial reaction to the statistics.
91裸聊视频淭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,91裸聊视频� wrote Basran in a Nov. 15 statement.
91裸聊视频淚n retrospect, I should have waited for the results of an investigation into the matter before expressing my opinion.91裸聊视频�
Basran said that while the RCMP operates independently, it is the city91裸聊视频檚 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.
91裸聊视频淚 support what the Kelowna RCMP has done in response to this new information from Statistics Canada 91裸聊视频� starting with an internal review and a subsequent request to have the RCMP91裸聊视频檚 Sexual Assault Review Team at national headquarters review the 2018 and 2019 files. That review will determine RCMP next steps,91裸聊视频� wrote Basran.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 my understanding that the RCMP will report out once the investigation is complete and I91裸聊视频檒l wait until that happens before commenting further.91裸聊视频�
For Friesen, the mayor91裸聊视频檚 apology 91裸聊视频� while a start 91裸聊视频� was not enough.
91裸聊视频淎pologies are not sincere when you apologize for an offence given and you don91裸聊视频檛 recognize why they are offensive,91裸聊视频� Friesen said in an interview last Friday.
91裸聊视频淎gain, Mayor Colin Basran91裸聊视频檚 privilege is keeping him from recognizing why his comments are so offensive to survivors of sexual assault.91裸聊视频�
She said she hoped he would be willing to meet with survivors of sexual assualt and discuss the larger issues at hand.
91裸聊视频淩ape culture is a driving force in Kelowna by the RCMP, the community at large, and by him. We need to start combatting it,91裸聊视频� said Friesen.
91裸聊视频淗e needs to recognize how he contributed to it and how he can help stop it.91裸聊视频�
Friesen also made a plea to other sexual assault survivors to come forward.
91裸聊视频淚t doesn91裸聊视频檛 matter if it91裸聊视频檚 in the last two years,91裸聊视频� she said.
91裸聊视频淚f you have been mistreated by the RCMP; if you are part of the 40 per cent 91裸聊视频� who cares if it was 10 years ago? Start speaking out. Demand better for the next woman. I can91裸聊视频檛 do this alone.91裸聊视频�
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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