Ottawa, ON — The Independent Press Gallery of Canada strongly condemns the Ottawa Police Service’s failure to act following the violent assault of independent journalist Chris Dacey by pro-Hamas demonstrators during a protest in downtown Ottawa on March 29, 2025.
Dacey, who was clearly engaged in journalistic activity near the Rideau Centre, was physically assaulted by a masked individual while filming. The incident was captured on video. Despite reporting the assault to nearby officers immediately after it occurred, police did nothing. At the time, the assailant was still on the scene and could have easily been apprehended. Due to the delay, the masked attacker left the area and has not been identified.
This failure to act not only allowed a violent individual to escape accountability, but also sent a chilling message to independent journalists across the country: that their safety can be compromised in broad daylight, even under the watch of law enforcement.
The Independent Press Gallery calls for an immediate investigation into both the assault and the police officers’ refusal to intervene. Journalists must be protected—especially when targeted for doing their job in politically charged environments. Anything less is a betrayal of democratic values and press freedom.
Sheila Gunn Reid
President, Independent Press Gallery of Canada