Protesting is fine, until it infringes on the legal rights of others and legal decisions of the courts.
Mayuk (Nicole) MANUEL was part of a group of protesters who attempted to forced their way into a meeting of Trans Mountain pipeline personnel. Security guards blocked their way, and the confrontation became violent. Reasonable force was used to prevent access and protect the personnel. MANUEL and others were charged with assault, mischief, and causing a disturbance.
The shocking turn is that MANUEL’s defense was that the security guard consented to the physical assault because of his profession. She argued that security professionals “signed up for it” by choosing that profession. Judge after judge rejected MANUEL’s argument. Undeterred, MANUEL took her defense all the way to the BC Supreme Court, who again rejected MANUEL’s argument.
Section 265(3) of the Criminal Code of Canada makes it clear that consent is not valid when it arises from an abuse or exercise of authority.
It isn’t okay to strike your spouse when you disagree with them. It isn’t okay to strike your children when they misbehave. How can someone believe that it is okay to strike a security guard because they are lawfully preventing you from committing a crime.
