‘Justice for Jon’ demonstration in Toronto
Six Nations women have organized a ‘day of direct action’ July 1
Six Nations women are calling for “Justice for Jon.”
A group of women organized a “day of direct action” July 1 to stand in solidarity with the family of Jonathan Styres — a Six Nations father of two who was shot and killed in a Glanbrook driveway in February 2016 — and send a message that “the time for talking is done. Now is a time for action.”
Peter Khill was found not guilty of seconddegree murder and manslaughter. He argued in court he acted in self-defence after confronting the Indigenous man, who was rummaging through his truck.
On Sunday morning, people plan to travel by bus from the Six Nations Community Hall to Queen’s Park. A rally is planned, followed by speakers on how Indigenous people are “underserved” by the justice system.
“Today, we will not celebrate Canada,” says a release about the event. “Today we mourn it. Indigenous people’s lives are not valued by Canada’s legal system.”
The local case has been likened to the 2016 shooting death of Colten Boushie. An all-white jury in Saskatchewan acquitted a farmer who killed the Cree man.
In a statement posted on Facebook, Styres’ spouse, Lindsay Hill, called the verdict “excruciatingly heartbreaking. There is a hole in my heart that will always be there. There has not been a day that I have not missed Jon since his life was unnecessarily taken.”
Those who can’t attend Sunday are encouraged to use hashtags on social media, including #JusticeforJon and #TimeForAction.
“It’s very important for us as Indigenous people to take ownership of these issues and bring forward the correct information so that there’s full details of why we have an Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and why there are repeated instances of injustice when it comes to people being sentenced in situations like this,” said Nahnda Garlow, one of the organizers.