TIMELINE: Police Violations Against Women Journalists in Canada
Timeline of a rising pattern of police violence against women journalists in Canada
In recent years, Canada has witnessed a concerning pattern of violations against women journalists by law enforcement agencies, raising significant questions about press freedom and the protection of those reporting on critical issues. The Coalition For Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom’s documentation exposes a disturbing trend where journalists, particularly women, have faced obstruction, arrest, harassment, and threats from the police. Journalist Brandi Morin, known for her coverage of Indigenous issues, has been a frequent target, facing arrests, harassment, and even criminal charges for her reporting on police interventions. Photojournalist Amber Bracken and several others have also experienced unjust actions, with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) challenging lawsuits and justifying arrests, thereby undermining the fundamental principles of a free press.
These incidents paint a troubling picture of the challenges journalists face in Canada when covering sensitive topics, particularly environmental and Indigenous demonstrations. Journalists face not only the physical dangers of reporting but also the threat of legal repercussions and intimidation from law enforcement.
It is apparent that the police in Canada have been allowed to benefit from a level of impunity when it comes to their violations of press freedom. The need for safeguarding press freedom and ensuring the rights of journalists is evident. The Coalition For Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom calls for a critical examination of the relationship between the media and law enforcement in the country.
Amber Bracken, alongside editors at the Narwhal, filed a lawsuit against RCMP over the arrest and detention of Bracken while she was reporting on Wet’suwet’en territory in 2021. Photo credit: Jen St. Denis
The CFWIJ and WPF has documented the following timeline of the police’s violations against women journalists.
Brandi Morin grabbed and threatened by an RCMP sergeant
Amber Bracken suing RCMP over pipeline arrest
Jen Osborne prevented from covering the events at Fairy Creek
Starla Myers arrested for reporting on the 1492 Land Back Lane
Melissa Cox arrested by the RCMP while reporting
2024
April 15
CUTV journalist Savanna Craig is arrested in Montreal while covering a pro-Palestine sit-in, charged with "mischief" alongside protesters despite clearly identifying herself and presenting valid press credentials.
March 1
Following campaigns from CFWIJ and Women Press Freedom, Police drop obstruction charge against Morin. Her lawyer was due to enter a plea of not guilty and arrange a trial date today but was informed that prosecutors had chosen to withdraw the charge. The decision is a victory for press freedom, signaling a need for law enforcement agencies to respect journalists' rights to report on events in the public interest.
January 29
The Coalition For Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom joins more than a half-dozen press freedom groups demanding police drop the bogus charges against Brandi Morin. If convicted, she could face two years behind bars.
January 10
On January 10, 2024, Brandi Morin, acclaimed Indigenous journalist, was criminally charged with obstruction for her coverage of a police raid on a homeless encampment in Edmonton. Morin, who has a history of confrontations with law enforcement in pursuit of her work, was arrested alongside Indigenous community members during the police intervention.
2023
October 5
In its recent court filings, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) challenges the lawsuit by photojournalist Amber Bracken concerning her wrongful arrest while covering a protest against the construction of a pipeline in 2021. The RCMP claims Bracken was not genuinely engaged in news reporting.
August 15
A police officer grabs and threatens journalist Brandi Morin with arrest as she reports on a raid of an environmental blockade at Fairy Creek Watershed, on Pacheedaht territory.
2022
April 27
Brandi Morin faces unauthorized surveillance bordering on harassment by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) while documenting militarized action against Indigenous land defenders in Wet'suwet'en territories.
2021
November 19
Photojournalist Amber Bracken is arrested while reporting on the escalating situation at Gidimt’en camp in Wet’suwet’en territory. The RCMP’s transgressions at the protesters’ campsite reached a crescendo on November 19, with the Amber’s arrest along with several others, including documentary filmmaker Michael Toledano. In arresting journalists reporting on a crucial issue, the RCMP stood in blatant violation of the freedom of the press and the right to information.
October 5
CBC journalist Meghan Grant receives retaliatory threats from officers from Lethbridge Police Service for exposing misconduct within the police force. The threats came to light through a whistleblower, who revealed the nature of the discussions within police offices regarding the ongoing investigations. The whistleblower claims retaliatory action was being discussed against the journalist and the lawmaker due to their activism and reporting.
August 18
Journalists Alexa MacLean, Sarah Plowman and Zane Woodford asked to vacate the premises of the Horseshoe Park when they were covering the eviction of citizens who had taken shelter there. According to the updates they posted on their social media platforms, the police kept arriving in hoards to vacate the park despite those on the location presenting no threats.
July 19
The Canadian Association of Journalists sues the RCMP for restricting access of the press to the Fairy Creek demonstrations. Both, the police brutality on site and the subsequent censorship has been an ongoing issue for months. In response to the lawsuit, the RCMP registered an affidavit against journalist Brandi Morin accusing her of lying about being prohibited from visiting the site despite there being video proof to the contrary.
May 18
The RCMP temporarily restrict press access to the headwaters of Fairy Creek, the last unlogged old-growth valley on southern Vancouver Island. The press was covering the demonstration of the The Rainforest Flying Squad who have been protesting and successfully blocking logging of an old-growth forest in the region since last year. Journalist Jen Osborne is prevented from covering the events at Fairy Creek. In a tweet, she says her access was denied to ensure that the police brutality against protestors remains under wraps.
February 11
The RCMP harass and attempt to intimidate journalist Brandi Morin when she visits the Unist’ot’en Healing Cam. Brandi took her Twitter to share the mistreatment. She was visiting the area alongside Amber Bracken to shoot a series.
2020
September 16
Indigenous journalist Starla Myers is arrested by Ontario Provincial Police over her coverage of protests of land defenders in the 1492 Land Back Lane action reclaiming land along the Haldimand Tract.
February 29
Melissa Cox, an American journalist and documentary filmmaker, is arrested by the RCMP. She is conditionally released after seven hours of detention. She was detained on an unceded Gitxsan territory in New Hazelton. Melissa was documenting a protest by indigenous people in Canada’s westernmost province.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.