The 13 people arrested in Victoria for holding a sit-in in support of the WetB次元官网网址檚uwetB次元官网网址檈n Nation a last week have filed complaints against Victoria Police Department, citing racism and injuries allegedly received during arrests.

The protesters, who call themselves land defenders, blocked the entrance to the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources on Blanshard Street for approximately 18 hours, starting at 11 a.m. on Jan. 21. The group was asking that demands of the hereditary chiefs regarding stopping work on the Coastal GasLink pipeline be upheld, observed and respected.

Hereditary chiefs have taken a stance in conflict with members of the WetB次元官网网址檚uwetB次元官网网址檈n Band Council, some of which support Coastal GasLink B次元官网网址� the 670-kilometre pipeline set to run from northeastern B.C. to the LNG CanadaB次元官网网址檚 export facility in Kitimat.

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The Union of BC Indian Chiefs said several people in attendance of the sit-in were injured. A University of Victoria law student, Alexia Manchon, attended the sit-in and monitored interactions between the protesters and police and said in a statement that one person may have received an arm injury, while another person received a facial injury that may require surgery.

Victoria Police Chief Const. Del Manak said a lot of B次元官网网址渕isinformationB次元官网网址� had been spread after the events, adding that police were present in some form or another for approximately eight hours before arrests were made.

B次元官网网址淲hen they made the arrest, [police] were acting in the lawful execution of their duty. They were arresting individuals who were given every opportunity to leave peacefully. They were told that after 15 hours that they had made their point,B次元官网网址� Manak said. B次元官网网址淚 can tell you that members of the Victoria Police Department exercised a tremendous amount of restraint, despite having physical and verbal abuse directed at them for many many hours from many of the protesters that were outside.B次元官网网址�

Manak said that police offered everyone to go free, but that 13 individuals refused to leave and were arrested. He added that police were made aware of one injury after arrest.

B次元官网网址淚 am aware that there was somebody that had a facial injury, IB次元官网网址檓 not sure to what extent of that injury was,B次元官网网址� Manak said. B次元官网网址淭here was one person who, when they were being processed in our jail facility was indicating that they may be injured and we asked them if they wanted immediate medical attentionB次元官网网址�they were asked on a couple of occasions and at that point they refused medical attention. ThatB次元官网网址檚 not to say that they didnB次元官网网址檛 feel worse the next morning or later on and sought medical attention. But our goal is always the safe resolution of a peaceful protest.B次元官网网址�

One other person said they required medical attention during the arrest, but chose not to see the police medic because the officer was armed. Manak said it took approximately 30 minutes for a paramedic to arrive on scene, and that this person did not go to hospital.

People arrested were held for a short period before being released. So far charges have not been laid.

Those arrested sent a formal complaint to the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner (OPCC) and held a press conference at the University of Victoria (UVic) on Wednesday morning.

Shay Lynn Sampson, a Gitxsan and WetB次元官网网址檚uwetB次元官网网址檈n UVic student who attended the sit-in, said the fallout has been B次元官网网址渋ntenseB次元官网网址� and has taken a toll on her community. She noted the protest was peaceful and focused on prayer and solidarity with WetB次元官网网址檚uwetB次元官网网址檈n.

B次元官网网址淲hen police arrived, thatB次元官网网址檚 when violence ensued,B次元官网网址� Sampson said.

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Tsartlip First Nation Chief and Union of BC Indian Chiefs vice-president Don Tom also spoke at the conference, noting that he was proud to stand with the Indigenous young adults and rebuke the VicPD statements about what took place.

B次元官网网址淚f we look at the recent history of RCMP not allowing hereditary chiefs past the checkpoint and we have the VicPD here in Victoria giving misinformation regarding the arrests and the treatment of the youth who were peacefully defending WetB次元官网网址檚uwetB次元官网网址檈n rights, itB次元官网网址檚 very concerning,B次元官网网址� Tom said. B次元官网网址淭hey have to be held accountable.B次元官网网址�

Victoria Police said no youth were arrested, with the youngest person being 18 B次元官网网址� an adult under the Canadian Criminal CodeB次元官网网址� and the oldest being 66. The average age in the group, Manak said, was 30.

TaB次元官网网址橩aiya Blaney, 18, was the last to be arrested. During the press conference, she said police B次元官网网址渨ent beyond their dutyB次元官网网址� and treated the WetB次元官网网址檚uwetB次元官网网址檈n supporters with B次元官网网址渉atred and racism.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚t was heartbreaking to hold ceremony, to sing, to pray with these Indigenous youth and see the way that they were treated by police that night,B次元官网网址� Blaney said.

Manak said that there was B次元官网网址渘ot any evidenceB次元官网网址� of racism, and from what heB次元官网网址檇 seen and heard B次元官网网址渢he officers maintained a high level of professionalism under difficult circumstances.B次元官网网址�

Protestors also claimed that police denied the entry of food and water into the building.

Manak said police had been investigating whether weapons were present when food arrived, and delayed the delivery of food until circumstances were better understood, approximately half an hour.

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Deputy Police Complaint Commissioner Andrea Spindler confirmed that the OPCC received B次元官网网址渟everalB次元官网网址� complaints regarding police conduct during the sit-in. She said each complaint will be reviewed and investigated by the independent civilian organization.

VicPD said they would be compliant with any and all investigations.

B次元官网网址淲e welcome the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner to investigate and look into this matter,B次元官网网址� Manak said.

katya.slepian@bpdigital.ca

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