We’re suing the RCMP for arresting a journalist on assignment for The Narwhal.
It’s an effort to protect press freedom — and the rights of all Canadians.
Three years ago, our small, independent news organization made a very big decision: we were going to take the RCMP to court.
Now, we’re about to head to trial.
Here’s a quick refresher: photojournalist Amber Bracken was on assignment for The Narwhal in northern British Columbia in November 2021. Amber was documenting tensions over the construction of the Coastal GasLink pipeline through Wet’suwet’en territory when she was arrested by the RCMP.
Amber was handcuffed, held in a cell for three nights and had her camera gear and photographs seized — all for doing her job.
We believe her arrest was a clear violation of her Charter rights — and The Narwhal’s. So we sued the RCMP to take a stand for press freedom in Canada.
And in one week, we’ll be in B.C.’s Supreme Court to stand up for what’s right.
This trial is running for five weeks in Vancouver starting Jan. 12. It’s about more than one arrest. It’s about defending the right of every journalist in Canada to report freely, without fear of police interference.
Here’s how you can stay informed and get involved as the case unfolds:
- Go watch our new video where I explain what’s at stake
- Share this page with your friends and tell them to sign up for email updates
- Come to the courtroom in Vancouver any time over the five-week trial
- Make a contribution to our legal fund for this case
Someone else’s rights were violated that day: yours.
Amber and The Narwhal were fulfilling our mandate to report on environmental risk, resource extraction and Indigenous Peoples’ varied approaches to stewarding their lands.
We were documenting issues of broad public interest, including the injunctions granted by Canadian courts that restrict public movement on behalf of private corporations — and how publicly funded police act when enforcing them.
Much of Canada’s resource extraction happens in remote places like these. When journalists are arrested, it has a chilling effect on your right to know.
The RCMP and the Attorney General of Canada draw on taxpayer dollars to fund their defence. But our case relies on extraordinary people like you spreading the word and chipping in.
This case has the potential to set a powerful precedent for press freedom across the country, not only for individual journalists, but for publications too. But we are a small, non-profit newsroom — and we can’t do this without you.
Over the course of the trial, we’ll share updates on this page and in our weekly newsletter. We hope you’ll follow along (and come say hi if you’re in Vancouver!). Amber and I are set to take the stand the week of Jan. 12, and there will be plenty of other important witnesses testifying over the next month.
Will you spread the word about our fight for press freedom today? Every single person who subscribes, shares and supports our case means so much to this little publication and our battle for your right to know.
