Award-winning Indigenous journalist Brandi Morin posted comments about Justice Michael Tammen’s findings in a court case that followed violent and racist actions by the RCMP. Police were serving as a security force for the oil and gas industry, which is just one more hidden subsidy governments provide for fossil fuels. An approaching climate crisis seems not to matter.

Unfortunately, the findings of Justice Tammen are unlikely to change RCMP behaviour. The police force has a long history of ‘dirty tricks’ favouring oil and gas companies.

 BREAKING:

Victory for Wing Chief Sleydo’ (Molly Wickham), Shaylynn Sampson, and Corey Jocko as BC Supreme Court confirms RCMP violated their Charter rights during the 2021 Wet’suwet’en pipeline blockade.

A BC judge found RCMP breached Charter rights during the 2021 Wet’suwet’en pipeline blockade arrests. Justice Tammen ruled that officers made racist comments about sacred Indigenous symbols – specifically mocking Sleydo’ and Shaylynn Sampson for wearing red handprints, which represent missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.

Justice Tammen ruled RCMP illegally:

– Entered structures without warrants, using chainsaws to break in

– Made racist comments mocking sacred symbols of MMIWG

– Showed “systemic attitudinal issues” within their pipeline enforcement unit (C-IRG)

The court acknowledged this is part of a pattern of systemic racism against Indigenous women in the justice system. While the contempt charges weren’t dropped, the judge ordered reduced sentences due to these serious Charter violations

This ruling validates what land defenders have been saying all along about racist and illegal police conduct during pipeline enforcement.

Justice Tammen’s findings have not yet been published on the Courts of British Columbia website. This post may be updated after the judge’s reasons for judgment are available in written form.