A small group of Walpole Island residents protested just west of Wallaceburg on Friday to raise awareness for the murdered and missing indigenous women in Canada.
It's a nationwide movement called #ShutDownCanada taking place in at least 22 communities across the country. Local organizer Theo Blackbird-John says it's a big problem the government needs to address. "Women have a five times more likelihood of witnessing assault and being taken or being murdered and that's not just on the territories," says Blackbird-John. "Stats are showing it's happening off the territories, in the cities and it's sad because the government has an opportunity to educate."
OPP Constable Janine Belanger says officers have been stationed in the area of Hwy. 40 and Dufferin Ave. for the entire protest. "There is an incident commander on scene and any police action that would be taken would be the responsibility and the decision of the incident commander," says Belanger.
Protesters weren't blocking vehicles from passing, but instead opted for a traffic slow-down. Blackbird-John is pleading with the public to support the native community. "There is a lot of compassion, like today you see us trying to do our best trying to build a relationship and share information," says Blackbird-John. "We have to do the job ourselves because they're not doing it and we need the general Canadian public to learn about this stuff and to support our initiative because the government is going to listen to the voice of the people, hopefully."
