Aaron Hemens, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter INDIGINEWS
More than a dozen people rallied outside a B.C. courthouse Thursday as Curtis Sagmoen, an Okanagan-based man with a history of violence against women, was set to make an appearance.
Sagmoen was scheduled to appear in the Kamloops court on June 20 on two counts of possession of a firearm contrary to order. His lawyer was present online for the hearing, but like his previous court date on June 6, Sagmoen was nowhere to be seen. His next appearance is booked for July 15.
Sagmoen害羞草研究所檚 past convictions involving assaults against women in the sex trade and the discovery of human remains on his family害羞草研究所檚 farm have led anti-violence advocates to keep a close eye on his court appearances.
Janet Enoch helped to organize the rally this week, as people equipped with drums, red dresses and signage to honour missing and murdered women called for justice.
害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e not going to stop until Curtis is behind bars for a good length of time,害羞草研究所� said Enoch. 害羞草研究所淏ecause while he害羞草研究所檚 out, he害羞草研究所檚 just a danger. He害羞草研究所檚 a danger to any women.害羞草研究所�
Sagmoen was convicted of assault in 2020 after ramming a woman he had hired for sex, with an ATV. He was also convicted of assault in 2019 for another attack on a sex worker, and on a firearms offence that same year for an incident involving him pointing a gun at a woman he had hired.
In 2017, the remains of 18-year-old Traci Genereaux were found on Sagmoen害羞草研究所檚 parent害羞草研究所檚 farm, which led to a massive RCMP search of the property and investigation. Sagmoen has not been charged in connection with her death.
害羞草研究所�(Genereaux害羞草研究所檚) going on seven years 害羞草研究所� almost 3,000 days 害羞草研究所� of nothing,害羞草研究所� said Enoch.
Enoch told IndigiNews that the purpose of the gathering was to not only condemn Sagmoen, but to amplify concerns around violence against women in Canada and the United States.
In Kamloops, as people honoured Genereaux and other women, community members placed signs around the courthouse entrance on Thursday, with messages that included: 害羞草研究所淣o more stolen sisters,害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所淛ustice for MMIW (Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women)害羞草研究所� and 害羞草研究所淚s your sister next?害羞草研究所�
Red dresses were hung on trees and parking posts throughout the building害羞草研究所檚 exterior. Community members held up signs that read, 害羞草研究所淪he is someone,害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所淵ou are not forgotten害羞草研究所� and 害羞草研究所淪ex work is work害羞草研究所� as drummers honoured victims with music including with the Women害羞草研究所檚 Warrior Song.
害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e there for Traci. We害羞草研究所檙e there for other missing and murdered ladies who can害羞草研究所檛 speak for themselves,害羞草研究所� said Enoch.
To show their support, the Battered Women害羞草研究所檚 Support Services害羞草研究所� team and their Elders hosted their own solidarity rally in Vancouver.
Enoch said that her group will continue to be present for Sagmoen害羞草研究所檚 court dates 害羞草研究所� regardless of whether he shows up 害羞草研究所� to raise awareness and to denounce violence against women.
害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e going to keep doing it until we can害羞草研究所檛 do it anymore,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e not garbage. We害羞草研究所檙e not supposed to be thrown away in landfills. We害羞草研究所檙e human beings and we need to be treated as such.害羞草研究所�
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