Why the acquittal of a white farmer is sparking protests across Canada
Canadian activists are calling for political and judicial reforms after a white farmer was found not guilty in the 2016 shooting of a young indigenous man by a seemingly all-white jury, spurring thousands of Canadians to demonstrate across the country.
Protests spread around Canada after the jury acquitted Gerald Stanley, a 56-year-old farmer, in the murder of 22-year-old Colton Boushie, a member of the Cree Red Pheasant First Nation in the central province of Saskatchewan, on Friday. Two years ago, Boushie and his friends drove onto Stanley’s land in search of assistance with a flat tire near the town of Biggar. The young people caught Stanley’s attention when he heard a vehicle start; believing it was being stolen, the farmer confronted them. A verbal back-and-forth ensued and Stanley fired a handgun, hitting Boushie. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
In Canada, the use of a firearm to defend private property is illegal. But Friday’s verdict means that Stanley will walk free. A jury reportedly containing no members of color — or indigenous members more specifically — found the farmer not guilty of second-degree murder or manslaughter. The decision devastated Boushie’s family, who announced following the verdict that they would meet with government officials and demand changes to Canada’s justice system.
https://thinkprogress.org/canada-native-lives-matter-ac2e31145f25/
Sounds familiar like in Florida...................
= new reply since forum marked as read
