The mother of a young Indigenous man who was shot dead in 2016 vowed on Saturday to 鈥渇ight back鈥 after his shooter was acquitted.
"White people -- they run the court system,鈥 said Debbie Baptiste at a rally in North Battleford, Sask., one day after farmer Gerald Stanley was found not guilty of second-degree murder in the death of Batiste鈥檚 son, Colten Boushie.
鈥淓nough,鈥 she said. 鈥淲e're going to fight back ... Enough killing our people.鈥
Stanley鈥檚 lawyers had argued that his gun went off accidentally, killing the 22-year-old man in a "freak accident."
Baptiste said she believes it wasn鈥檛 an accident.
"Go to hell, Gerald Stanley,鈥 she said. 鈥淭hat's where you belong."
The rally in North Battleford was one of dozens of 鈥淒ay of Action鈥 protests that were organized across Canada after Friday鈥檚 verdict, by groups Indigenous Joint Action Coalition and Idle No More.
More than a dozen gatherings took place, from Vancouver to Edmonton to Halifax.
Bobby Cameron, Saskatchewan regional chief for the Assembly of First Nations, told 麻豆影视 Channel on Saturday evening that the nationwide solidarity 鈥渕eant a lot to us.鈥
鈥淲e feel betrayed. We feel let down,鈥 he said of the verdict. 鈥淲hat if that was your child?鈥
He added, 鈥淲hat would you do, and what would you expect justice to do?鈥
Cameron said he wants to see justice reform, including around how juries are selected, so that Indigenous people can get 鈥渁 fair and equitable trial.鈥 Concerns have been raised about an apparent lack of diversity on the jury, which did not have any jurors from visible minorities, including the Indigenous community.
鈥淚s that so much to ask?鈥 he added. 鈥淔or all those out there, we want to thank you and we continue to ask for peaceful demonstrations.鈥
A rally held at Nathan Phillips Square in Toronto on Saturday saw dozens gather in solidarity for Boushie鈥檚 family, while Indigenous leaders spoke about injustices against the community. Attendees prayed, sang and drummed, holding signs reading 鈥渞acist jury鈥 and 鈥渞acist verdict.鈥
One person held a poster reading 鈥淛ustice for Tina Fontaine,鈥 an Indigenous girl whose body was found in 2014.
Some attendees spoke about growing weary of what they called injustice against Indigenous people.
鈥淪omething that鈥檚 so overtly racist, something that鈥檚 so overtly murder-with-impunity, should be an outrage to everyone, but somehow it鈥檚 not,鈥 artist Shandra Spears Bombay told CP24鈥檚 Arda Zakarian.
鈥楨verybody matters鈥
More rallies were underway across Canada Saturday, including gatherings in Ottawa, Regina, Vancouver, Victoria, Penticton, and a number of First Nations communities, including the Opaskwayak Cree Nation in Manitoba and the Nipissing First Nation.
Events are planned for Sunday and Monday in Kitchener-Waterloo, London, and Calgary.
At a rally in Ottawa, 8-year-old Mariposa Horsley stood with her family holding a sign reading "Everybody matters."
"I have a best friend who is Inuit. Her mother is actually a throat singer," she told the Canadian Press. "I thought it would be nice to come because I don't think we should be against people just because of the colour of their skin. It's not fair."
鈥淏ring drums and signs,鈥 advised for a gathering at the Court of Queen鈥檚 Bench of Saskatchewan on Saturday.
One user on the page pleaded for attendees to 鈥渄ocument the hurt鈥 on social media.
鈥淭ake pictures of signs, posters, placards, slogans, and speakers. Take pictures of the crowd. Post them with comments. Make the event last long after today,鈥
Some offered rides to those in need, encouraged people to arrive early to make posters, and others said they would bring extra winter clothing for people gathering.
On Twitter, the hashtag 鈥#JusticeForColtenBoushie鈥 was trending in Canada.
Trudeau: 鈥榃e have to do better鈥
and also responded to the verdict on Saturday.
Speaking in California, Trudeau directly addressed Canada鈥檚 Indigenous community.
"I'm not going to comment on the process that led us to this point today, but I am going to say we have come to this point as a country far too many times," he said.
"Indigenous people across this country are angry, they're heartbroken, and I know Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians alike know that we have to do better."
Saskatchewan MP Georgina Jolibois joined the chorus of politicians and Indigenous leaders speaking out against the verdict.
"As Indigenous people, we give each other support when we're hurting. And that's why I'm here," she told CP in Ottawa.
Jolibois said she and other Indigenous leaders would like to see an inquiry into what happened called.
The Crown has not ruled out an appeal.
With files from The Canadian Press
鈥 Linsay Martens (@docmartens11)
We are here for Colten鈥檚 family. We stand in solidarity. 鉂わ笍 鉁
鈥 Miyo Pimatsowin (@MiyoPimatsowin)
Several hundred gathered on short notice in Saskatoon to demand
鈥 Jesse Donovan 鈭 (@JesseDonovanLaw)
鈥 here for dafonte (@DesmondCole)
in Toronto
鈥 KDubs (@listentohoratio)
Racism in our court system is alive and well in Canada 2018. We need to do better.
鈥 Sheila Colla (@SheilaColla)
People over property.
鈥 Doppelganger (@doppelkyceter)