An Indigenous man in Yellowknife is demanding change after he says he was beaten by multiple Mounties just one day after hundreds of residents gathered in solidarity against racism and police brutality.
Benjamin Manuel says he was walking home from work alongside his partner on the evening of June 10 near KimSA国际影视传媒檚 Confectionery when he was stopped by Yellowknife .
Manuel alleges three officers kicked and stomped him in the face.
SA国际影视传媒淭hey picked me up, beat me up and threw me out of the vehicle like I was nothing,SA国际影视传媒� Manuel said. Taking to Facebook following the alleged assault at the hands of officers, Manuel recounted the incident online.
He told SA国际影视传媒 he was not arrested or taken to cells. Manuel, still wearing a patient identification band, went to Stanton Territorial Hospital to be examined.
On June 12 SA国际影视传媒� moments before NWT SA国际影视传媒檚 commanding officer Jamie Zettler held a press conference SA国际影视传媒� Manuel, bruised with two black eyes, gathered outside the Yellowknife detachment with half a dozen friends, co-workers and supporters.
Originally from Fort Good Hope, Manuel said WednesdaySA国际影视传媒檚 incident wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 the first time heSA国际影视传媒檚 experienced police brutality. He said he was roughed up by NWT officers as recently as March 2019, adding police are SA国际影视传媒渃onstantly bugging him.SA国际影视传媒�
He wants it to stop.
SA国际影视传媒淚t shouldnSA国际影视传媒檛 happen to Aboriginal people or any kind of people, any kind of race. I want respect SA国际影视传媒� thatSA国际影视传媒檚 what I wantSA国际影视传媒� Manuel said.
SA国际影视传媒淧olice are constantly harassing people for no reason and ISA国际影视传媒檓 one of them,SA国际影视传媒� he continued.
Manuel said he wants to pursue legal action against the officers. He believes he knows the name of one of the Mounties, but the identities of the others are unknown to him.
Asked about his communications with following the alleged beating, Manuel said police recently interviewed him about the incident.
He added that he attended the detachment Friday to speak up for himself and others who have been victimized or harassed by law enforcement.
NWTSA国际影视传媒檚 top cop acknowledges racism among ranks
Last weekSA国际影视传媒檚 press conference SA国际影视传媒� a rare occurrence over the last few years SA国际影视传媒� was apparently meant to address the June 9 Black Lives Matter march that drew demonstrations, at times chanting SA国际影视传媒渄efund the police,SA国际影视传媒� outside police headquarters. However, the press conference quickly turned into a discussion about police brutality, racism among SA国际影视传媒檚 ranks, concerns from residents in NWT communities about policing practices and the alleged assault on Manuel.
Amid global protests against police brutality SA国际影视传媒� sparked by the killing of George Floyd, a Black man in Minneapolis, Minnesota SA国际影视传媒� Zettler, pressed by reporters, acknowledged that racism and SA国际影视传媒渦nconscious biasesSA国际影视传媒� exist among the ranks of the NWT .
SA国际影视传媒淭hereSA国际影视传媒檚 racism in society and we are part of our society here in our country and if it exists in our country then itSA国际影视传媒檚 going to exist in all of our organizations, and the is no different,SA国际影视传媒� said Zettler.
SA国际影视传媒淭he NWT is working to combat racism and discrimination and we must understand thereSA国际影视传媒檚 still work to be done to reduce it, not only in the territories but across the world.SA国际影视传媒�
Following the admission, Zettler SA国际影视传媒� telling media that Mounties in the North SA国际影视传媒渄o a great jobSA国际影视传媒� SA国际影视传媒� stressed that members receive training related to biases, racism and SA国际影视传媒渃ultural orientation.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淥ur members have a perception from what they see. Community members also have a perception,SA国际影视传媒� the commanding officer said.
SA国际影视传媒楽ometimes social media doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 have all the factsSA国际影视传媒�
Addressing the alleged assault against Manuel, Zettler said are SA国际影视传媒渇ollowing upSA国际影视传媒� on the complaint, but wouldnSA国际影视传媒檛 go into specifics about an investigation.
SA国际影视传媒淚 certainly have to say that we need to know what the information is and what occurred before making any decisions. It has been brought to the attention of the detachment and weSA国际影视传媒檙e in the process of following up (on it),SA国际影视传媒� Zettler told reporters. SA国际影视传媒淯nfortunately, sometimes social media doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 have all the facts.SA国际影视传媒�
Zettler refused to comment on the identities of the officers involved in the alleged assault.
Newly-formed coalition pushing for change
Morgan Johnson, who participated in last weekSA国际影视传媒檚 demonstration, met with Manuel and other supporters outside the detachment. SheSA国际影视传媒檚 one of about 20 people involved in a new Yellowknife-based coalition supporting the Black Lives Matter movement.
SA国际影视传媒淲e want to see some serious changes within the justice system. We donSA国际影视传媒檛 want to be back (at the detachment) twice in one week,SA国际影视传媒� said Johnson. SA国际影视传媒淚 want to hear that there will be change and I want to see it.SA国际影视传媒�
