By Jeff Shantz July 13, 2020
In June, stomach turning video was released publicly showing Kelowna RCMP officer Lacey Browning brutalizing nursing student Mona Wang during a so-called wellness check on January 20, 2020. The video shows the officer dragging Wang sown a hallway onto an elevator, and then from the elevator across the floor of the lobby at the entrance to the student housing building where Wand resided. At various points officer Browning is seen lifting Mona Wang’s head and shoulders by her hair and stepping on her head. Police had been called by Wang’s boyfriend who was concerned that she was in mental health distress.
Since the video was released campaigns have been undertaken to support Mona Wang in her calls for justice. On July 11, rallies were held in Surrey, Vancouver, Richmond, and Kelowna. I attended the Surrey event held at the BC RCMP headquarters. Numerous speakers at the event expressed outrage over the violence inflicted on Mona Wang, at a time when she needed care and support.
Organizers read four demands being made by supporters in their call for Justice for Mona Wang. They are:
“1. The RCMP “admit wrongdoing” and apologize to Wang and the public for Browning’s behaviour
2. That Browning’s employment with the RCMP be terminated “immediately without pay” and that she “should be charged with assault to cause bodily harm and obstruction of justice for making false statements.”
3. That an independent public review process be established for all cases of police misconduct
4. That a task force of “diverse and well-informed” experts and stakeholders be established by provincial governments to “review, revise and implement practical and appropriate first response protocol” for wellness checks.”
An online petition in support of these demands has close to 400 000 signatures.
The rally wrapped up with a march through the RCMP parking lot by the sixty or so people in attendance.
The violence inflicted on Mona Wang is a too common outcome of police calls about mental health and wellness. On many occasions the victims do not survive the encounter. Such was the case on June 4 when Chantel Moore, a 26-year old Indigenous woman was shot and killed by Edmunston, New Brunswick, police during a “wellness check.” That police have no place participating in health care, where they tend to increase anxieties and quickly respond punitively and with violence, has been a key position of calls to defund police and properly fund decent health care supports.
