CPJ calls on Canadian police to let journalists work freely at indigenous protest sites

Supporters of the Wet’suwet’en Nation indigenous group, who oppose the construction of the Coastal GasLink pipeline, protest outside the provincial headquarters of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada, on January 16, 2020. In early February, the RCMP prevented journalists from covering the takeover of an indigenous protest camp. (Reuters/Jesse Winter)

Supporters of the Wet’suwet’en Nation indigenous group, who oppose the construction of the Coastal GasLink pipeline, protest outside the provincial headquarters of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada, on January 16, 2020. In early February, the RCMP prevented journalists from covering the takeover of an indigenous protest camp. (Reuters/Jesse Winter)

New York, February 7, 2020—In response to news reports that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) yesterday obstructed journalists trying to cover police operations at indigenous protest camps in British Columbia, the Committee to Protect Journalists today issued the following statement:

“Canadian authorities should allow journalists to report on the indigenous protests against the Coastal GasLink pipeline without fear of retaliation,” said CPJ Program Director Carlos Martinez de la Serna. “Reporters need to document how police engage with protesters and should not be harmed or threatened for doing their work.”

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