Mothers of two fatal police shooting victims gathered today where Jared Lowndes died exactly one year ago.

Laura Holland and Martha Martin joined anti-police-violence organizers from across B.C. outside a Campbell River Tim Hortons to commemorate Lowndes91裸聊视频� death on July 8, 2021 and to call for change.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 been a year of quiet grieving for me,91裸聊视频� Lowndes91裸聊视频� mother Laura Holland told the gathering. 91裸聊视频淎nd I say quiet grieving. Because I haven91裸聊视频檛 been out speaking, haven91裸聊视频檛 been out telling people, haven91裸聊视频檛 been out telling the world how I feel. I haven91裸聊视频檛 been out telling the governments they need to change. It91裸聊视频檚 been a year of quiet grief for me. And today that ends.

91裸聊视频淚 tried my best to respect my people91裸聊视频檚 ways. And today, it91裸聊视频檚 over. Today starts my year of love and rage.91裸聊视频�

Martin91裸聊视频檚 daughter, Chantel Moore of the Tofino-area Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation, was killed by the Edmunston police in New Brunswick in June of 2020. And a few months later, Martin91裸聊视频檚 son, Mike Martin, died while in custody at the Surrey pre-trial centre.

91裸聊视频淎s mothers, we are angry, we are disgusted,91裸聊视频� she said as highway traffic passed and customers entered and exited the restaurant parking lot. 91裸聊视频淲here91裸聊视频檚 our leadership91裸聊视频檚 coming, you know?91裸聊视频�

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Friday91裸聊视频檚 rally was organized by #JusticeForJared supporters. It was to include a march through Campbell River and another rally at Strathcona Gardens Recreation Complex adjacent to the Campbell River RCMP police detachment.

Lowndes, 38, was killed in a police-involved altercation in the Tim Hortons parking lot. Police say Mounties attempted to stop a vehicle in relation to an outstanding warrant when the suspect fled. According to the National Police Federation, it was an outstanding warrant for weapons offences. An officer boxed the vehicle in before confronting Lowndes with a police dog. The dog was fatally stabbed and Lowndes was shot, dying a short time later. The dog handler received a knife wound.

Holland said there91裸聊视频檚 not a day that goes by that she doesn91裸聊视频檛 wake up and think about her son.

91裸聊视频淭here91裸聊视频檚 not a day that goes by I don91裸聊视频檛 wake up and think, just around the corner here. Just around the corner is where his car was smashed in by three police vehicles,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淭hey sent their dog after him.91裸聊视频�

Organizers of the #JusticeForJared rally said in an emailed statement they march to bring attention to the ongoing violence perpetrated at the hands of the RCMP. They say the killing of Indigenous people by police must end.

91裸聊视频淭he weaponization of attack dogs to help the RCMP murder and maim should be criminal. If anyone besides the police did this, it would be treated as a crime,91裸聊视频� Randy Geddes, friend of Jared Lowndes, said in the statement.

91裸聊视频淲hy are they held to a different standard? The rate of violent crimes against Indigenous people 91裸聊视频� by those meant to keep us safe 91裸聊视频� is astonishing. The police investigating police91裸聊视频檚 crimes needs to stop. The IIO can never be a truly impartial organization and can91裸聊视频檛 be trusted to take care of public safety.91裸聊视频�

The IIO is the Independent Investigations Office, B.C.91裸聊视频檚 police watchdog set up to investigate police-related incidents at arms-length from the force.

As of the first anniversary of Lowndes shooting, the IIO has yet to produce a public report on his death.

Holland continues to call for an external investigation, including the examination of the role of the RCMP 91裸聊视频淓91裸聊视频� Division and the federal ministries which oversee and dictate RCMP activities 91裸聊视频� the Minister of Justice and Minister of Public Safety.

Since Lowdnes91裸聊视频� death, four other IIO Investigations have been opened into deaths connected to the Campbell River RCMP. While these investigations are done independently, march organizers say they shroud police conduct in secrecy. They want the RCMP subject to public scrutiny.

91裸聊视频淎s a mother of two children killed by police and prisons, I have no faith in recommendations. We need action and we need it now,91裸聊视频� Martin said in the statement. 91裸聊视频淓very time I gather with families, we add new names to our lists of people killed by the police. The violence must end. Now.

91裸聊视频淚 am walking with Laura Holland because I understand her pain 91裸聊视频� as a mother who has lost children to police violence. Across this country 91裸聊视频� from my Nuu-chah-nulth homelands to the Wolastoqey territory I live in 91裸聊视频� Indigenous people are being killed by the police. Rodney Levi was killed just eight days after my daughter, and two years later we have added so many names.

91裸聊视频淭he killings must end.91裸聊视频�

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