Idle No More, Black Lives Matter protesters demand action on Attawapiskat suicide crisis
Source: CBC News
As many as 20 members of Idle No More and Black Lives Matter have been occupying the Toronto office of Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) since mid-morning, demanding that the federal government take action following the suicide crisis.
Toronto police, who arrived at the Yonge Street and St. Clair Avenue E. location after 10:45 a.m. ET Wednesday, say protesters removed a Canadian flag from the office, but that the protest has been non-violent.
Protesters started the occupation with a die-in on the floor of the office, before holding a ceremony that included the burning of sweetgrass and sage.
They say they are standing in solidarity with the Attawapiskat community, which declared a state of emergency Saturday following reports of 11 suicide attempts in one day alone last weekend. There are also reports of more than 100 suicide attempts and at least one death since September in the remote community of nearly 2,000 people.
Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/protesters-occupy-indigenous-northern-affairs-office-1.3533662?cmp=abfb
This news follows from a story posted earlier by Eugene: http://www.democraticunderground.com/1016152132
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And apparently this is not just happening in this one First Nation community. It's a crisis here now, but it's an ongoing problem in many of these communities.
I'm glad BLM are getting involved.