(Jeremy Russell)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

Anti-racism event crashed

No charges pending after weekend clash between protesters turns violent

Sep 22, 2020 | 9:27 AM

UPDATE [11:45 a.m.] Mayor Tara Veer has released the following statement:

“The City of Red Deer is aware of and shares the public’s strong concerns regarding the escalated protests that occurred in our city this past weekend.

“The City respects Canada’s constitutional rights of citizens to peacefully assemble; however, we unequivocally denounce violence and racism in our community. Furthermore, it is highly concerning for our community that travelling protests have incited division and violence in our city. The City recognizes that social tensions are extremely high across our country as a result of the pandemic, economy, political polarity, and competing worldviews. However, as a community it is imperative we pull together, and not apart, during adverse times. We cannot allow the actions of a few to characterize our city.

“I’ve spoken with the provincial Minister of Justice as well as the RCMP, and both are in solidarity with The City in upholding law and order in our community. The local RCMP have an open investigation regarding the incidents of the past weekend, and will be issuing a statement later today.

“Anyone with information, including identifying those who were being violent, are encouraged to contact the Red Deer RCMP at 403-343-5575 to support local law enforcement and assist in the investigation as they uphold safety in our city.”

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Police say no charges are expected at this time after what was intended to be a peaceful community discussion on inclusion and racism Sunday in Red Deer turned violent and was stopped before it started.

The event hosted by Red Deer Against Racism was billed as an anti-racism rally, but organizers say counter-protesters showed up to disrupt it.

Red Deer RCMP tell rdnewsNOW they were informed of the event at Rotary Recreation Park by organizers, days in advance. However, witnesses say officers did not step in to keep the two sides apart until after physical altercations had already occurred.

Patrick Lavallee was there for the original rally and says RCMP could have, and should have, done much more to prevent the violence that took place.

“When RCMP arrived, they took no action,” he claimed. “They just watched physical assaults take place. Families were there too in a separate area (that) we were trying to keep safe, so naturally some of our people tried to push back when they (counter-protesters) came in there aggressively and tried to force their way through. We couldn’t allow that to happen with a whole bunch of families nearby.”

Lavallee added, “Of course they say that we’re Antifa or that we’re going to burn down their houses, but when it comes to a peaceful rally in a park with families, it was absolutely insane, and it was even more insane for RCMP not to respond, to get in there and at least say stop being aggressive, settle down and stop harassing these people.”

Jeremy Russell was there and said it was difficult to watch the situation devolve.

“It was extremely disheartening to see how people will travel from hours away to incite violence and cause trouble for a group of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Colour) and allies who have been peacefully engaging with communities in Alberta for months,” he said. “The hatred is sickening.”

Russel and Lavallee claim they’ve both been doxed* by people on the counter-protesters’ side.

(Doxing, or doxxing, is the Internet-based practice of researching and publicly broadcasting private or identifying information about an individual or organization).

A Red Deer RCMP spokesperson told rdnewsNOW that the RCMP’s primary role at any demonstration is to preserve the peace, protect life and property, and enforce the law.

The spokesperson said that at no point did RCMP witness any assaults that warranted intervention, while another incident where video shows a man getting rushed and punched took place before members arrived.

RCMP say that man was advised to attend the Red Deer detachment to file a report, which hadn’t happened as of late Monday afternoon, meaning no charges are being laid, including against the man Lavallee alleges punched him in the throat, because video evidence is inconclusive.

Lavallee attended the detachment Monday and filed a statement.

The RCMP spokesperson adds that at one point, RCMP formed a barrier with their bodies and bicycles between the two sides, but allowed people to cross over at their discretion.