Catherine McClarty still has nightmares about her arrest two years ago during an anti-logging protest on Vancouver Island and her experience with a controversial RCMP unit that’s been accused of improper use of force, neglect of duty and more.
As part of ongoing protests against logging of old-growth forests in the Fairy Creek watershed, the 47-year old took part in one of the largest acts of civil unrest in Canadian history.
Yeah not surprised. The head of that unit was (probably still is, haven’t looked him up in awhile) Jason Charney. If you search his name and CIRG you’ll find lots of paydirt going back years prior to the Fairy Creek and Wet’Su actions. He’s a fuckin douchebag, and his whole team follows suit.
The CIRG started as a small specialized counter-insurgency unit but when they took off, in conjunction with the Wet’Su actions ramping up, they got a lot of funding. They also got (and continue to receive) an influx of over-timers from other regions, detachments and units who can spare the personnel. To say that another way, if Brooks, AB or Brandon, MB detachments are having a slow month, their members can “volunteer” to rotate out on other assignments such as Charney’s F.N./hippy headbusting crew. And if you pay attention, CIRG keeps getting more funding because douchebagettes from other regions are more than stoked to get on Jason’s team for a working vacay, make some overtime, use all the fun new tech toys, and stir shit up. They actually love it, and it shows.
They’re a crew, within the RCMP, who openly and gladly do damage to resistors of industry. The funny thing is they were deployed nation-wide for a bit during the omicronvoy anti-vax protests… and that probably either solidified their place on the federal level or… if they fucked that assignment up… did damage to their unit’s future. I haven’t dug too deep on that one.
I’ve also seen articles from 2 to 3 years ago about RCMP training in Israel for counter-insurgency tactics (i.e. against Gaza and Hamas) but those references I seem to remember being within easy reach appear to be scrubbed.
Really makes ya think.png
Here’s some fun take-home reading for anyone interested in the above… Militarization of Police - publicsafety.gc.ca and I quote:
Emphasis mine, and fuck you Jason Charney. ACAB