含羞草研究社淚magine what those three gunshots sounded like,含羞草研究社� Laura Holland told Campbell River RCMP members on Tuesday afternoon.

含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檒l never see him again,含羞草研究社� she continued. 含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檒l never see my son含羞草研究社檚 face again.含羞草研究社�

含羞草研究社淭he next time, we含羞草研究社檙e going to be so loud that Canada will never kill another Indigenous person含羞草研究社� we含羞草研究社檙e not going to back down.含羞草研究社�

Holland含羞草研究社檚 voice was nearly drowned out by drums just outside the detachment doors. On the front lawn of the building, over 100 people gathered to mourn Jared Lowndes and protest the manner of his death.

Holland, Lowndes含羞草研究社� mother, led a procession of vehicles that wound through downtown Campbell River to the RCMP detachment, the Tim Hortons where the shooting occurred, and finally, to Homalco village for a private traditional ceremony.

Residents of Campbell River have largely been polarized after the shooting of Lowndes. Some people have said the police were justified in their actions due to the man含羞草研究社檚 history. Before the procession, Lydia Hwitsum of the First Nations Summit said the idea behind the event was to try and bridge that divide and work together towards a solution.

含羞草研究社淚t all starts with human rights,含羞草研究社� she said. 含羞草研究社淲e含羞草研究社檙e all human beings on this planet, and whatever divide has been perpetuated, we have to see beyond that and see that we含羞草研究社檙e all human beings with a heart. There含羞草研究社檚 been loss, there含羞草研究社檚 hurt, there含羞草研究社檚 pain, there含羞草研究社檚 injustice. Those are drivers for us to work together on solutions.含羞草研究社�

Lowndes含羞草研究社� family echoed Hwitsum含羞草研究社檚 sentiment, saying that reform is needed for the RCMP. They are asking for the disarmament of the police, as well as mandatory body cameras for members.

An urn holding Lowndes含羞草研究社� remains was carried through the city by his brother Sean Holland. The procession left downtown at around 11 a.m. and went towards the RCMP station. There, Laura Holland confronted RCMP members present. She also spoke to the memorial set out for RCMP Service Dog Gator.

含羞草研究社淲e came here to bring flowers for a dead service dog,含羞草研究社� Holland said. 含羞草研究社淲e didn含羞草研究社檛 come to deface or to shred anything. We have more respect than that, and my son has more honour than that. And he wouldn含羞草研究社檛 want us to do anything more than that.含羞草研究社�

Homalco Chief Darren Blaney was horrified at the response people have had in Campbell River since the incident.

含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檓 disappointed in Campbell River because too many people are comfortable with racism,含羞草研究社� Blaney said.

The incident is still under investigation with the Independent Investigations Office of British Columbia. Campbell River RCMP said they would not be commenting further on the case.

From there, the procession travelled to the Willow Point Tim Hortons, where the deadly incident all took place.

Family members and friends spoke about Lowndes and laid gifts at a growing memorial in his honour. This was followed by a private event at Homalco, but not before one last song was sung for Lowndes by members with drums that echoed music over the ocean.

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marc.kitteringham@campbellrivermirror.com
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