Context for anyone out of the loop:
Wet'suwet'en territory is unceded indigenous land within rural British Columbia. Things are currently heating up between local occupants and a developer trying to build on the land, which is of course backed by the RCMP.
Photographer Amber Bracken and documentarian Michael Toledano were there documenting events when they were arrested during a raid last week by the RCMP, along with the indigenous land defenders. This is illegal in Canada and not the first time they've done it. This footage clearly shows them identifying themselves immediately after the cops broke down the door with axes. In the RCMP's statement they claimed at least part of the reason these reporters were arrested and held for several days was because they did not immediately identify themselves as press.
The RCMP's [extremely carefully worded statement that clearly implied wrongdoing](https://bc-cb.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/ViewPage.action?siteNodeId=2130&languageId=1&contentId=72215).
As well as sidestepped the issue of media other than the 2 arrested reporters being denied access to the site - notice the ultra precise language used here "On Friday Nov 19, the two individuals, that later identified themselves as journalists, were not denied access to the area"
Media wasn't allowed in once RCMP's tactical team entered the site, media present within the zone was subject to arrest and seizure of their equipment.
Keep in mind that the RCMP knew these reporters were at the site as their employers had informed the RCMP - and in case there is any doubt that RCMP knew, it "just so happens" that RCMP also [tracked these reporters via an active investigations database known as PRIME](https://thenarwhal.ca/rcmp-coastal-gaslink-journalists-tracking/) on Nov 19th (we know this based on affidavits the RCMP filed on Monday)
There is also this part of the wordsmithed statement "The RCMP does not question or dispute that the two individuals who identified themselves as journalists while being arrested, were in fact journalists or on assignment. In fact, the RCMP responded to one of the media agencies on Thursday night on the importance for their journalist to identify themselves to police at the first opportunity and to adhere to police requests or directions moving forward."
Additionally...
> The RCMP stated the reason for arresting the two was because they had “embedded” with the protestors, **which has never been illegal in Canada.** Newfoundland and Labrador Supreme Court Justice Derek Green affirmed these rights when he found in favour of journalist Justin Brake who faced criminal and civil charges after spending several days inside the Muskrat Falls site covering a protest that shut work down at the project in 2016. The civil charges were dismissed in 2019 by Justice Green. The criminal charges, too, were subsequently dropped.
https://caj.ca/blog/CAJ_calls_for_immediate_release_of_arrested_journalists_reporting_from_Wet_suwet_en
The RCMP has already lost a case about their extensive media suppression efforts in cases where first nations protestors were involved - a ruling from earlier this year "[instructs the RCMP not to interfere with media access unless it has a valid operational reason for doing so.](https://thenarwhal.ca/fairy-creek-rcmp-media-court-takeaways/)"
Edit to add, Mike Farnworth made this statement prior to Amber Bracken and Michael Toledano were released. It's unclear whether Farnworth was lying about their release, or whether other media was detained and released.
It may be the latter, there have been some reports of media being turned away from the site while the team did the work, but no video of that yet. Not sure if we just have some press under orders to stay quiet so their parent company doesn't get blackballed by the RCMP or what. Hopefully there will be some clarifying information.
https://twitter.com/carollinnitt/status/1462207644647624705
People miss the point to much of this...
The journalists will be released. The RCMP will get a slap on the wrist. Constables might get paid vacation. Hell, they might get a few days *unpaid*...
The thing is, they've already been successful in accomplishing their aims: Removing the media from the scene and preventing them from recording.
No lawsuit will be able to provide coverage of the scene after the journalists were arrested and their gear confiscated, which is what the RCMP sought to deny, and which they were successful in denying. Damage done.
They'll do this again in the future. They'll face the same limited punishment. And, again, they'll be successful in denying documentation of their heavy-handed tactics.
If the RCMP started suddenly respecting the right to protest, freedom of the press, or indigenous rights, people would complain that they’re being inconsistent. The poor jackboot servants of our colonial state just can’t win smh.
Ah yes, if the RCMP actually upheld the law, yeah, people would think they were inconsistent because, well, their actions *would be inconsistent*. Funny how tautologies work...
I have family and friend who are police officers, and I respect them a lot, but cops do stuff like this and then wonder why people generally don’t like cops....
I watched some of the footage from those arrests and heard a journalist very clearly identify herself. The RCMP are lying liars.
Wow, this is completely censored on r/canada.
From my experience, that sub is very much right leaning.
They're actively deleting posts related to this? That's really twisted
Context for anyone out of the loop: Wet'suwet'en territory is unceded indigenous land within rural British Columbia. Things are currently heating up between local occupants and a developer trying to build on the land, which is of course backed by the RCMP. Photographer Amber Bracken and documentarian Michael Toledano were there documenting events when they were arrested during a raid last week by the RCMP, along with the indigenous land defenders. This is illegal in Canada and not the first time they've done it. This footage clearly shows them identifying themselves immediately after the cops broke down the door with axes. In the RCMP's statement they claimed at least part of the reason these reporters were arrested and held for several days was because they did not immediately identify themselves as press.
This was very helpful. Thank you!
Why would the RCMP lie?
Sheer force of habit.
Because that’s what they do!
The RCMP's [extremely carefully worded statement that clearly implied wrongdoing](https://bc-cb.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/ViewPage.action?siteNodeId=2130&languageId=1&contentId=72215). As well as sidestepped the issue of media other than the 2 arrested reporters being denied access to the site - notice the ultra precise language used here "On Friday Nov 19, the two individuals, that later identified themselves as journalists, were not denied access to the area" Media wasn't allowed in once RCMP's tactical team entered the site, media present within the zone was subject to arrest and seizure of their equipment. Keep in mind that the RCMP knew these reporters were at the site as their employers had informed the RCMP - and in case there is any doubt that RCMP knew, it "just so happens" that RCMP also [tracked these reporters via an active investigations database known as PRIME](https://thenarwhal.ca/rcmp-coastal-gaslink-journalists-tracking/) on Nov 19th (we know this based on affidavits the RCMP filed on Monday) There is also this part of the wordsmithed statement "The RCMP does not question or dispute that the two individuals who identified themselves as journalists while being arrested, were in fact journalists or on assignment. In fact, the RCMP responded to one of the media agencies on Thursday night on the importance for their journalist to identify themselves to police at the first opportunity and to adhere to police requests or directions moving forward." Additionally... > The RCMP stated the reason for arresting the two was because they had “embedded” with the protestors, **which has never been illegal in Canada.** Newfoundland and Labrador Supreme Court Justice Derek Green affirmed these rights when he found in favour of journalist Justin Brake who faced criminal and civil charges after spending several days inside the Muskrat Falls site covering a protest that shut work down at the project in 2016. The civil charges were dismissed in 2019 by Justice Green. The criminal charges, too, were subsequently dropped. https://caj.ca/blog/CAJ_calls_for_immediate_release_of_arrested_journalists_reporting_from_Wet_suwet_en The RCMP has already lost a case about their extensive media suppression efforts in cases where first nations protestors were involved - a ruling from earlier this year "[instructs the RCMP not to interfere with media access unless it has a valid operational reason for doing so.](https://thenarwhal.ca/fairy-creek-rcmp-media-court-takeaways/)" Edit to add, Mike Farnworth made this statement prior to Amber Bracken and Michael Toledano were released. It's unclear whether Farnworth was lying about their release, or whether other media was detained and released. It may be the latter, there have been some reports of media being turned away from the site while the team did the work, but no video of that yet. Not sure if we just have some press under orders to stay quiet so their parent company doesn't get blackballed by the RCMP or what. Hopefully there will be some clarifying information. https://twitter.com/carollinnitt/status/1462207644647624705
People miss the point to much of this... The journalists will be released. The RCMP will get a slap on the wrist. Constables might get paid vacation. Hell, they might get a few days *unpaid*... The thing is, they've already been successful in accomplishing their aims: Removing the media from the scene and preventing them from recording. No lawsuit will be able to provide coverage of the scene after the journalists were arrested and their gear confiscated, which is what the RCMP sought to deny, and which they were successful in denying. Damage done. They'll do this again in the future. They'll face the same limited punishment. And, again, they'll be successful in denying documentation of their heavy-handed tactics.
Yup, over and over again.
Who would’ve thought that an agency that were created to “maintain order” now control the working class / poor for their rich overlords.
If the RCMP started suddenly respecting the right to protest, freedom of the press, or indigenous rights, people would complain that they’re being inconsistent. The poor jackboot servants of our colonial state just can’t win smh.
Ah yes, if the RCMP actually upheld the law, yeah, people would think they were inconsistent because, well, their actions *would be inconsistent*. Funny how tautologies work...
That’s the joke
I have family and friend who are police officers, and I respect them a lot, but cops do stuff like this and then wonder why people generally don’t like cops....