The rally at the Osoyoos border, Feb. 19, 2022.
Image Credit: FACEBOOK/Michelle Toussaint
February 20, 2022 - 3:01 PM
The Osoyoos RCMP are following up after a Global News journalist was spat on while covering a protest this weekend.
Global Okanagan reporter Yasmin Gandham tweeted yesterday, Feb. 19 that she was spat on, called a liar and “fake news,” and her appearance was insulted while she was in Osoyoos covering an anti-pandemic-restriction rally.
“To my colleagues experiencing abuse during covering these protests, I stand with you,” she said in a follow-up Tweet.
Sgt. Jason Bayda, Osoyoos RCMP commander, said police officers will be reaching out to Gandham and determining if it warrants a further investigation. They were unaware the incident had occurred until it was reported in the news.
READ MORE: Reporter spat on while covering Osoyoos protest
Spitting on someone is considered to be assault under the Criminal Code, he said.
There were no other incidents reported yesterday as protestors appeared to be peaceful and the border remained open.
“We certainly don’t support these protests and I know a lot of locals around there are getting tired of them but our main reason for being there is to ensure everything remains peaceful and to investigate any criminal acts if they do occur,” Bayda said.
Earlier this month, Feb. 12, the Osoyoos RCMP also responded to an incident where a local resident allegedly threw nails on the highway in what appeared to be an attempt to damage tires and stop the convoy, he said.
Convoy rallies against pandemic restrictions have been held every Saturday in the last few weeks from Vernon to Osoyoos.
“We’ve identified that person and will be sending a report into the B.C. Prosecution Service and press for charges of mischief,” Bayda said.
No other incidents involving the protests have been reported to the Osoyoos RCMP, he said.
READ MORE: Health Minister condemns actions of B.C. protestors after journalists, student harassed
In Surrey, a journalist and cameraman had to be escorted by RCMP officers to their vehicle after a mob swarmed them yesterday during the weekend protests. The Surrey RCMP detachment said it will be investigating several incidents where aggressive protesters surrounded media personnel that could lead to subsequent arrests or charges.
No one is officially tracking these types of attacks but media workers are reporting their experiences of harassment or violence in the field are increasing, said Jennifer Moreau, secretary-treasurer at Unifor Local 2000, representing local journalists, in a previous interview with iNFOnews.
"These anti-vaxxer type protests are definitely a hazard because they are so openly hostile against media workers," she said.
- This story was corrected Feb. 21, 2022 to clarify that the Osoyoos RCMP did not officially launch an investigation into the incident.
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