A new group, the Canadian Citizens Against Crime and Public Drug Abuse, will hold a silent and peaceful protest rally at 5 p.m. on Jan. 9 in the parking lot of North Cowichan’s Municipal Hall. (Citizen file photo)
A new group, the Canadian Citizens Against Crime and Public Drug Abuse, held a silent and peaceful protest rally at 5 p.m. on Jan. 9 in the parking lot of North Cowichan’s Municipal Hall. (Chadd Cawson/Citizen)
A new group, the Canadian Citizens Against Crime and Public Drug Abuse, held a silent and peaceful protest rally at 5 p.m. on Jan. 9 in the parking lot of North Cowichan’s Municipal Hall. (Chadd Cawson/Citizen)
A new group, the Canadian Citizens Against Crime and Public Drug Abuse, will hold a silent and peaceful protest rally at 5 p.m. on Jan. 9 in the parking lot of North Cowichan’s Municipal Hall. (Citizen file photo)
A new group, the Canadian Citizens Against Crime and Public Drug Abuse, will hold a silent and peaceful protest rally at 5 p.m. on Jan. 9 in the parking lot of North Cowichan’s Municipal Hall. (Citizen file photo)
A new group, the Canadian Citizens Against Crime and Public Drug Abuse, held a silent and peaceful protest rally at 5 p.m. on Jan. 9 in the parking lot of North Cowichan’s Municipal Hall. (Chadd Cawson/Citizen)
A new group, the Canadian Citizens Against Crime and Public Drug Abuse, held a silent and peaceful protest rally at 5 p.m. on Jan. 9 in the parking lot of North Cowichan’s Municipal Hall. (Chadd Cawson/Citizen)
A new group, the Canadian Citizens Against Crime and Public Drug Abuse, will hold a silent and peaceful protest rally at 5 p.m. on Jan. 9 in the parking lot of North Cowichan’s Municipal Hall. (Citizen file photo)
A new group, the Canadian Citizens Against Crime and Public Drug Abuse, will hold a silent and peaceful protest rally at 5 p.m. on Jan. 9 in the parking lot of North Cowichan’s Municipal Hall. (Citizen file photo)
A new group, the Canadian Citizens Against Crime and Public Drug Abuse, held a silent and peaceful protest rally at 5 p.m. on Jan. 9 in the parking lot of North Cowichan’s Municipal Hall. (Chadd Cawson/Citizen)
A new group that wants major changes to the way drug abuse and crime are being handled across the country held a protest rally at 5 p.m. on Jan. 9 in the parking lot at North Cowichan’s Municipal Hall.
Travis Rankin, who began the Cowichan-based online group Canadian Citizens Against Crime and Public Drug Abuse just last week, said he’s not usually political but the current policies at all levels of government to deal with the abuse of street drugs and crime are clearly not working, and a new direction is needed.
“We need to end and retract government policies that allow the abuse of street drugs and crime,” Rankin said.
“The group has about 1,500 members so far,” he said. “We’re fed up and we want change. We’re keeping our ears to the ground and are planning similar rallies at the offices of the Cowichan Valley Regional District and the City of Duncan.”
Rankin said the group’s purpose is to spread its ideas across the country and get as many people as possible on board to press the matter with all levels of government.
“We want change so we’re focused on getting as much support from the people across Canada as possible to accomplish that,” he said.
Rankin stressed that the protest at North Cowichan was peaceful and silent, and there was no disruption of the COW meeting, which includes all council members.
“Our intention is to silently show our presence and our concerns,” he said.
“We want people to come together to discuss what we can do about [the crime and drug issues], then we will move collectively to get it done.”
