Alleged racist comments at vaccine clinic investigated by RCMP

RCMP are investigating after a person shown on video was allegedly making racists comments outside a Kelowna vaccine clinic.

On Tuesday, July 13, RCMP responded to a complaint of protestors outside a vaccine clinic on Springfield Road.

“The original complaint was that protestors were impeding access to the clinic,” Cpl. Jocelyn Noseworthy of the Kelowna RCMP, said. “Officers attended, spoke with staff, and dealt with the protestors. No arrests were made at that time.”

Mounties say since then, a video has surfaced of a protestor yelling what appears to be racially motivated comments and accusations at a staff member who asked him to leave the property.

Vernon city councillor Kelly Fehr said on Twitter, he was disgusted by the protestor’s comments.

The accused in the video has been identified by police, and the RCMP is in the process of conducting a full investigation into this matter.

“We are now investigating this incident through the lens of the willful promotion of hatred under Section 319 of the Criminal Code,” Noseworthy said. “Racism has no place in our community, and I want to reassure the public that this matter is being given the full attention of our general investigative support team in consultation with the provincial hate crimes unit.”

Anyone who witnessed this confrontation and has not spoken to police is asked to contact the Kelowna RCMP at (250) 762-3300.