Green Party deputy leader convicted of criminal contempt

The deputy leader of Canada’s Green Party has been convicted of seven counts of criminal contempt.

The charges against Angela Davidson — also known as Rainbow Eyes — relate to her role in the Fairy Creek logging blockades in 2021 and 2022. Court documents show that she broke an injunction against protesting with “deviant, repeated, and public” conduct, according to the reasons for judgement.

The injunction, which she received May 18, 2021, said Davidson must refrain from “impeding, physically obstructing, or in any way interfering with” anyone going to or from the logging areas.

She then breached the injunction and bail conditions on six separate occasions in 2021 and 2022.

Davidson, who is also the Green Party’s Indigenous Affairs Critic, told the court that as a member of the Kwakwaka’wakw First Nation, she had a duty as a land guardian to join the protests at Fairy Creek.

“Ms. Davidson was taught by the Elders of that community, including her grandfather the Hereditary Chief William Glendale, that it was her sacred duty to protect the forests, animals that inhabited the forests, and waterways surrounding and inside Vancouver Island,” Chief Justice Hinkson said in the judgement.

“She was taught how doing so would ensure the ongoing welfare of all of the animals, including humans of not only her nation but also that of her neighbours.”

She also argued that her protesting was “minimal,” and that she was being unfairly singled out by police.

The court disagreed, saying she understood that she was breaching her release orders and the injunction but chose to do it anyway.

“The Crown argued that there is nothing minimal about Ms. Davidson’s conduct: she chose to breach four different court orders a total of seven times,” Hinkson said.

“After the fifth breach, she made a personal promise to a judge that she would not do so again. The Crown argues that I should not decline to make a finding of contempt of court when the elements were otherwise made out. I agree with the Crown that Ms. Davidson’s conduct was defiant, repeated and public, and certainly not minimal.”

The Leader Spirit has reached out to the Green Party for comment.

With files from Cole Schisler.