The day after a white Saskatchewan farmer was found not guilty of second-degree murder in the 2016 death of Colten Boushie, a 22-year-old Red Pheasant First Nation resident, thousands gathered across the country in solemn remembrance of the young man for whom they feel justice was not served. The gatherings ranged from vigils to protests, pulled together under the banner âJustice for Colten Boushie.â Two took place in Saskatchewan, the province where Boushie lived and died, while others took place or were scheduled to take place on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Yellowknife, N.W.T., and as far away as Palm Beach, Fla.The emotion was raw at a rally in North Battleford, Sask., Saturday as Boushieâs mother lashed out at the justice system and vowed First Nations people will âfight back.âRead more:Opinion | Shree Paradkar: Our reaction to injustice for Colten Boushie is a reflection of our soul as individuals and CanadiansNot guilty verdict in shooting death of Colten Boushie âabsolutely perverseââThe justice system needs to stop locking up our youths. All of our loved ones are in jail. White people â they run the court system. Enough. Weâre going to fight back,â said a visibly upset Debbie Baptiste. âTheyâre not sweeping us under the carpet. Enough killing our people. We fight back. Go to hell, Gerald Stanley. Thatâs where you belong.âThe defence in the Stanley case said his gun accidentally went off, killing Boushie with a single shot to the back of the head in a âfreak accident.ââThat ainât no freak accident,â said Baptiste. âGerald Stanley is a freak accident.âHundreds gathered for a vigil at Nathan Phillips Square in Toronto Saturday afternoon. Undeterred by blustery conditions, the diverse crowd carried signs reading âJustice for Colten.â Others read âEnd Indigenous Genocide,â and âNewcomers to this land ...
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