Hamilton (CH) camera attacked?

[canuckcam]

http://toronto.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20060609/camera_injuries_060609/20060609/?hub=TorontoHome


Camera operators injured at Caledonia occupation
Canadian Press

TORONTO — Ontario Provincial Police are investigating an assault on two camera operators at the site of an aboriginal occupation near Hamilton.

Reports say a cameraman from a Hamilton-based television station was filming in Caledonia, Ont., today when he was dragged and attacked by aboriginal protesters.

Debbie Walker, a managing producer at the station, confirms the man was taken to hospital with cuts and bruises to his head, but couldn't say who was responsible.

A second camera operator also suffered minor injuries after he was kicked and punched.

Const. Keith Robb confirms police are also investigating allegations that officers standing nearby saw the attack and didn't intervene.

The camera operators were filming as part of ongoing coverage of the aboriginal occupation, which started in February when Six Nations members took over a housing construction site.

"I'm appalled," said Walker.

"They were doing nothing that warranted an unprovoked attack."

[Sean-1966]

http://sympaticomsn.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060610/caledonia_conflict_060610#


This is crap. These natives have to go.

[canuckcam]

I was a lone camera there overnight... boy was it tense, especially when they arrested the youth. The locals wouldn't let the wagon off the grounds, and the OPP riot guys came just in time because they were rocking the van.

Everyone (Caledonians) I talked to were pissed that the OPP didn't do anything when the Nick and Ken were being assaulted.

Now the scary thing for media covering the event is, you don't even know if the police will protect you if you're being assaulted. There have been threats made to the employees at CH and think they've axed any coverage of the situation. Sad, but maybe it's a good thing.

I got some good "talkin' to" by many locals saying that media are portraying them as raging rednecks and that needs to change. I told them as much as I can try, I'm a camera op... my video goes through 5 other people back at the station who's not at the incident before it goes to air. I don't know how else to defend myself.

[HamCam]

Actually we have not suspended our coverage of the events/situation in Caledonia. We have taken some steps to make our staff covering the stories a little more protected with a few extra eyes.

Nonetheless what happend to Ken and Nick was inexcuseable. I hope that it doesn't happen to anyone else.

Be safe!