A march is planned in downtown Red Deer protesting Friday’s not guilty verdict in the death of Colten Boushie.
The verdict has already sparked protests around the country.
At about 5 p.m. people will gather in front of Red Deer City Hall near City Hall Park for the Justice for Colten event. People will march around the downtown area before ending at the Red Deer provincial court house at about 6 p.m.
“As a young indigenous person I feel Canada has not valued my life. Part of this march is for Justice for Colten Boushie, and part of it is justice for the rest of Indigenous people,” said local organizer Heidi Coltman, of Red Deer, on Monday.
On Friday a jury in Battleford, Sask., deliberated 13 hours before finding Gerald Stanley not guilty of second degree murder in the 2016 death of Boushie, a 22-year-old resident of the Red Pheasant First Nation.
The trial heard that Boushie was shot in the head while he was sitting in an SUV that had been driven onto Stanley’s farm near Biggar, Sask.
The SUV driver testified the group had been drinking during the day and tried to break into a truck on a neighbouring farm, but went to the Stanley property in search of help with a flat tire.
Stanley, 56 testified that he fired warning shots to scare the group off. He said the fatal shot occurred when he reached into the SUV to grab the keys out of the ignition and his gun “just went off.”
Coltman said so far about 30 people are expected to attend the local march.
With files from The Canadian Press
szielinski@reddeeradvocate.com
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