Unite to Challenge the Publication Ban in the Arkangelo Case

Recently, the Edmonton Police Service has sought a publication ban to protect the identities of officers involved in this incident, citing credible threats to the life of one officer. Legal experts describe this move as "unprecedented" and raise significant concerns about transparency and accountability within our justice system.

A court order has been granted that prevents me from sharing information relating to the Arkangelo case, particularly anything that might serve to identify the officer or officers involved. This interim order was granted without notice to me and is in place until the court finally decides the matter. I intend to challenge the court order.

I am retaining legal counsel to mount an effective legal challenge against this publication ban. The total fees for this endeavour are approximately $8,000, plus additional costs such as filing fees and GST. An initial retainer of $2,000 is required to commence the work, with the remaining balance payable in installments as the case progresses.

As a community, it is vital that we collectively challenge the court order. In previous cases, such as the EPS Killing of Stephen Nyguen, the officer's identities have been released. The Arkangelo Family and the community should know the officer's identities so we can protect our youth and our community from further harm by this officer. We must take action for the safety and security of our community.

Since July, the Edmonton Police have attempted to silence me repeatedly, whether it be through intimidation, this court order, the lack of any notice that I could have say in this matter or the increased surveillance. This publication ban puts our community in danger. It is a risk to our community that an officer who killed a man who was surrendering be hidden and allowed to walk the streets with a firearm.

When this matter first came to my attention, I sought legal counsel and attempted to pay the money out of my own pocket. However, I recently left university and started a new business, which prevented me from paying these legal bills.

So now, I'm turning to the community for support. I believe that the interim publication ban must be challenged and defeated. Under no circumstance, whether you or I had done the same thing, would our names be kept secret. This is a shocking lack of transparency, and I view this unreasonable limitation on my speech as a violation of my charter-protected rights.

Throughout this situation, I'm committed to keeping everyone informed about the progression of the matter. We can't let them sweep this under the rug, and we won't let them.