The Telegram (St. John's)

‘She did nothing wrong’

Muskrat Falls demonstrat­or being held at HMP

- BY EVAN CAREEN The Labradoria­n

Jodi Greenleave­s (from left), Anne Hamel and Brenda Green stage a protest Frifday outside Her Majesty’s Penitentia­ry. The trio want Beatrice Hunter released from custody at HMP. Facing charged for a protest on the Muskrat Falls constructi­on site, Hunter was remanded into custody earlier this week after she wouldn’t assure a judge that she would stay away from the worksite.

Beatrice Hunter was detained by the courts on May 29 for refusing to tell a judge in Happy Valley-goose Bay she would stay away from Muskrat Falls and would possibly violate an injunction written by that same judge.

On June 1, Hunter was moved from the lockup in Happy Valley-goose Bay to Her Majesty’s Penitentia­ry in St. John’s, which has spurred further protests in Happy Valley-goose Bay and in St. John’s.

Anne Hamel is one of the protestors in St. Johns she said she’s there to let Hunter know she has support.

“They have the wrong person behind bars as far as I’m concerned,” Hamel, originally from Labrador, told The Labradoria­n. “Beatrice doesn’t deserve this, she’s standing up for what she believes in and we support her. It’s unreal. It’s like they’re stripping us of our rights. Who is going to be next?”

Hamel said it isn’t a crime to stand up for what you believe in, which is what Hunter has done. She said all the members of the Labrador Land Protectors in the area are aware Hunter is there and more would be showing up to protest in the coming days.

Jodi Greenleave­s, originally from Cartwright, was also at the HMP gates protesting Hunter’s incarcerat­ion. Greenleave­s said as far as she’s concerned Hunter is in jail for being honest and not telling the judge a lie.

“She’s only here because she was brave enough to stand up in front of that judge and tell the truth and that’s wrong,” she said. “She’s not a violent person, she did nothing wrong, in my opinion. When did fighting for your rights become a crime?”

Brenda Green was also part of the demonstrat­ion at HMP and said she thinks Hunter was moved from Labrador because there was too much attention but moving her to St. John’s won’t change that.

Green said they would make sure there’s attention in St. John’s and they’re not going to give up until Hunter is freed.

Green, who is from the island, said she doesn’t understand how an indigenous woman like Hunter, can be told she can’t protest at the Muskrat Falls site, built on indigenous lands.

“Newfoundla­nd doesn’t own that land, the Newfoundla­nd government doesn’t own that land, they own it. When it comes to truth and reconcilia­tion, look at our government — I’m revolted.”

Politician­s weigh in

In addition to the protesters at HMP, government officials have called for Hunter to be released or at least moved out of HMP, including Nunatsiavu­t president Johannes Lampe.

“My thoughts are with Beatrice Hunter at this time,” said Lampe in a press release issued on June 2. “She was detained for a minor offence, something that pales in comparison to the crime of having her locked up at a correction­al facility for men — many of whom are violent offenders.”

Lampe questioned the reasoning government gave for not putting Hunter in women’s facility in Clarenvill­e.

“She is not a violent offender, so what’s the real reason why she was sent to St. John’s? Did politics play a role?”

Lampe sent a letter to government in April to ask for all the charges against the demonstrat­ors be dropped and was told it was not government­s role to intervene in court matter.

Labrador Member of Parliament Yvonne Jones said she has also called upon Nalcor and the provincial government to drop the charges against all involved to no avail.

Jones also issued a press release regarding Hunters incarcerat­ion, saying when she hears of incidents like this she feels an absence of fairness for Labradoria­ns.

She said she is concerned moving Hunter from Labrador takes her away from her family and at times like this all people need family support. Jones said she would continue to assist in any way she can.

 ?? JOE GIBBONS/THE TELEGRAM ??
JOE GIBBONS/THE TELEGRAM
 ?? JOE GIBBONS/THE TELEGRAM ?? Brenda Green (from left), Jodi Greenleave­s and Anne Hamel, protest outside Her Majesty’s Penitentia­ry in St. John’s Friday calling for the release Beatrice Hunter of Hopedale, a member of the Labrador Land Protectors.
JOE GIBBONS/THE TELEGRAM Brenda Green (from left), Jodi Greenleave­s and Anne Hamel, protest outside Her Majesty’s Penitentia­ry in St. John’s Friday calling for the release Beatrice Hunter of Hopedale, a member of the Labrador Land Protectors.

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