Government Appeals Derek Reimer's Acquittal!

Pastor Derek Reimer, the brave Albertan who was arrested for peacefully protesting a Drag Queen Story event at a Calgary Public Library in February of 2023, was dramatically arrested and wound up with a long list of criminal (and other) charges and tickets, for this protest, and for continuing to protest at other Drag Queen Story events in Calgary.

Pastor Derek was convicted on some of his criminal charges (as I detailed earlier this year), but was recently acquitted (found not guilty) on the main charges from the initial protest at Seaton Public Library! This is amazing news!

However, the Crown recently appealed this ruling, and will drag Derek through yet another trial in the court of Appeal!

Can you believe it!? Even though he was found not-guilty by the court, the government can appeal to the Alberta Court of Appeal, and potentially even further, if they decide, to the Supreme Court of Canada.

In some countries (like the USA), once you're found not guilty once - the government cannot appeal the verdict - that's it - you're not guilty. Being tried again on the same charge would invoke the well-known phrase "Double Jeopardy".

In this country, the government has the ability to appeal generally twice (to an appeals court, and then the Supreme Court) - which when you consider that each appeal could mean another year or two of legal troubles, is extremely frustrating!

Derek needs to raise funds for this appeal, delivered in person by the police last week.

https://www.fundingthefight.ca/pastor_derek