'We don't care how much he cried': Hell no Snelgrove! protest outside RNC headquarters
Protest started at noon Monday outside Fort Townshend building in St. John's
Chants of "fire his ass" could be heard outside the St. John's headquarters of the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary on Monday, as a group gathered to protest Const. Doug Snelgrove.
The RNC officer was found not guilty of sexual assault on Friday night, in a case in which he had sex while on duty with a woman who had been drinking. Snelgrove has been suspended without pay since he was charged in July 2015.
The protest, called Hell no Snelgrove!, started at noon at the RNC's headquarters at Fort Townshend and lasted for nearly an hour.
Crowd chanting "fire his ass". <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cbcnl?src=hash">#cbcnl</a> <a href="https://t.co/YBqbRNi3zu">pic.twitter.com/YBqbRNi3zu</a>
—@CStokescbc"I believe survivors, I believe her … and I want justice for her, whatever that looks like to her," said Alex Noel, one of the event organizers.
Noel said Snelgrove should be fired because "you cannot consent to sex with someone with a gun on their hip."
To a crowd of about 100 people, Noel said Snelgrove being found not guilty is a sign of a larger problem in society.
More people with signs arriving at Snelgrove protest at RNC <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cbcnl?src=hash">#cbcnl</a> <a href="https://t.co/ImAsRDsSnY">pic.twitter.com/ImAsRDsSnY</a>
—@j_whites"Whether or not Doug Snelgrove is convicted or fired, these systemic issues will still exist. That's why we need the RNC to affirm its commitment to fighting rape culture," said Noel.
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After some of the event organizers spoke, the crowd also started chanting "no justice, no peace, no violent police," and "blame the system, not the victim."
Other chants included "we don't care how much he cried," referring to how Snelgrove cried in court, and "my tax dollars aren't for rape."
After Friday night's verdict, a group of protesters gathered outside Supreme Court in downtown St. John's. Explicit graffiti was also posted over the weekend on Duckworth Street.
RNC Chief Bill Janes said Snelgrove will remain suspended without pay until the RNC public complaints commission wraps up its investigation and makes disciplinary recommendations.
With files from Jen White and Carolyn Stokes