British Columbia’s civilian police watchdog has cleared officers of any wrongdoing in the collision between a Royal Canadian Mounted Police vehicle and a tractor during an anti-SOGI protest last November.
The Independent Investigations Office (IIO) of B.C. launched an investigation into the Nov. 25 crash after a police pursuit ended with the tractor rolling on the on-ramp to the 176 Street overpass in Surrey.
The collision occurred as a group of protesters drove slowly down the Trans-Canada Highway as a way to show their opposition to the SOGI (sexuality, orientation and gender identity) curriculum being taught in B.C. schools.
The man driving the tractor was ejected and sustained serious injuries. He was subsequently transported to a local hospital for treatment.
Media reports at the time of the incident identified the tractor driver as Chilliwack resident Bill Shoker.
The IIO described the collision as a “result of interactions between the police vehicles and the tractor.”
“The Chief Civilian Director has reviewed the evidence—civilian witness statements, forensic scene analysis, video footage, medical records, and police information—and determined that there are no reasonable grounds to believe any officer may have committed an offense,” the IIO said in a press release.
The civilian group said it would not release its public report detailing its findings until court proceedings on the matter have concluded.
The IIO findings come after months of ongoing protests in Surrey and Abbotsford against the SOGI 123 curriculum. The resources, which are used by all 60 school districts in B.C., were developed by the ARC Foundation.
The ARC Foundation has been described as a charity that “collaborates with educators so that students of all sexual orientations and gender identities can live their authentic lives.”
Videos of the Abbotsford protests could be seen on social media of protesters holding signs that read “Stop SOGI 123” and “Our Kids Our Choice: Parents Have Rights.”
The Million March organizers’ main website lists their goals as eliminating the SOGI curriculum, preferred pronouns, and mixed-gender bathrooms.
