Justin Trudeau to investigate reports of police brutality against Indigenous people
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that he will speak with his cabinet and the RCMP commisioner on Friday following recent reports of police brutality against Indigenous Canadians.
Speaking outside of Rideau Cottage, Trudeau called the recent videos and reports from across the country showing violence against Indigenous people "disturbing."
"We need to ensure that each of these individual cases is investigated properly," he said, "but we also need a larger reflection on changing the systems that do not do right by too many Indigenous people and racialized Canadians."
PMJT says a larger reflection is needed on "changing the systems that do not do right by too many Indigenous people and racialized Canadians." Says he will be speaking with cabinet and the RCMP commissioner later today to ensure proper investigations for each recent case.
— Olivia Stefanovich (@CBCOlivia) June 5, 2020
When asked by a reporter what he would say to Indigenous Canadians that feel fear when police officials show up outside their doors, Trudeau said that "far too many Canadians feel fear and anxiety" at the sight of law enforcement officers.
"Indigenous Canadians, racialized Canadians, are vulnerable in these situations," he said. "This is not something that is new."
"But over the past weeks, we've seen a large number of Canadians suddenly awaken to the fact that the discrimination that is a lived reality for far too many of our fellow citizens is something that needs to end. And that is what we are working on."
Trudeau says that the federal government only has jurisdiction over the RCMP, but he will be discussing the issue with Canadian provinces and municipalities in the next few days.
PMJT says he will be discussing the Calls for Justice from the National Inquiry into MMIWG with cabinet and the RCMP. Says Ottawa only has jurisdiction over RCMP, but the feds also need to work with provinces and municipalities over the coming days.
— Olivia Stefanovich (@CBCOlivia) June 5, 2020
Some of the more publicized cases that Trudeau was addressing include the death of Chantel Moore, a 26-year-old woman in New Brunswick that was fatally shot while police were performing a wellness check.
In a statement, the Edmundston Police Force said officers were called to do a wellness check on a woman in an apartment in the city. When they arrived, she emerged with a knife and attacked an officer, according to Inspector Steve Robinson.
"He had no choice but to defend himself," Robinson said.
Chantel Moore, 26 yr old Indigenious women from Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation, Vancouver Island BC, was shot & killed by police in Edmundston, NB during a wellness check. You can donate to this fundraiser that has been created with permission of her family. https://t.co/0Wt1Pun2CW
— Farrah Khan (@farrahsafiakhan) June 5, 2020
Footage of Nunavut police officers using the door of an RCMP truck to knock over a man before arresting him has also recently surfaced, sparking outrage on social media.
An intoxicated man in Nunavut was rammed with the door of a moving truck by an RCMP officer 🤦♂️-📹 Joanie Bundy Ragee #Canada #Nunavut #RCMP pic.twitter.com/9KIaAN12Pe
— Freshdaily (@freshdaily) June 3, 2020
On Friday, Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller condemned the recent acts of violence by police against Indigeneous Canadians.
"I don't understand how someone dies during a wellness check," Miller said. "I'm pissed. I'm outraged. There needs to be a full accounting of what has gone on."
Hector Vasquez
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