Chantel Moore害羞草研究所檚 family is asking people to refocus their attention after someone pouring liquid on Victoria害羞草研究所檚 police chief took the focus away from the real importance of Saturday害羞草研究所檚 memorial event.
害羞草研究所淭he event on Sept. 18 was to honour and call for justice for Chantel Moore and a number of families who have lost their loved ones or faced violence and brutality from police and RCMP in Canada,害羞草研究所� Moore害羞草研究所檚 uncle Hjalmer Wenstob said in a video statement on behalf of the family and in conjunction with Victoria Police Chief Del Manak, Sunday (Sept. 19) night.
Moore, an Indigenous woman, was fatally shot by a police officer in Edmundston, N.B. during a wellness check on June 4, 2020. No criminal charges have been laid against the officer.
Since then, Moore害羞草研究所檚 mother, Martha Martin, and her family have been calling for changes to policing across the country, including mandatory police body cameras, more training and civilian support on mental health calls, better independent oversight, and taking officers who discharge a gun off duty until they害羞草研究所檝e been cleared.
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Martin invited Manak to attend and speak at Saturday害羞草研究所檚 event in the hopes of breaking down barriers and starting to work together towards those goals, Wenstob said. But, after Manak had finished speaking, a group of people not connected with the event and not related to Moore害羞草研究所檚 family, approached the chief and poured a cup of liquid on him. The event, Wenstob said, was immediately halted while Moore害羞草研究所檚 family brought Manak on stage to apologize to him and call out the incident.
害羞草研究所淭his act and any act similar moves us in the wrong direction and is something we will note condone,害羞草研究所� Wenstob said. But, he noted, the act should not have defined the event.
害羞草研究所淪ongs, prayers and stories were shared, tears and pain were shed, and the start of important work was done,害羞草研究所� Wenstob said.
The family was dismayed when they returned home to see Victoria Police Department害羞草研究所檚 press release, and subsequent media coverage, focused not on that important work, but on the liquid being poured on the police chief.
害羞草研究所淲e cannot stand idly by and see the good work that has been done taken advantage of to create further division,害羞草研究所� Wenstob said.
Speaking in the same video statement, Manak thanked people for their care and concern for him, but agreed that the focus needs to return to Chantel Moore. He said he was honoured to have been invited to the event and will continue to work with Moore害羞草研究所檚 family.
Five people were taken into custody following the incident, but have since been released and no charges have been laid at this time.
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