Bradley Barton, a truck driver from Ontario, was found not guilty of first degree murder last month. His acquittal raised national outrage. Other protests and rallies were held in a number of cities across Canada on April 2 including in Vancouver and Toronto.
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Gladue, who was 36 at the time of her death five years ago, was a sex worker who was found in a bathtub in a northwest Edmonton motel room. The Crown argued that Gladue had been cut with a weapon, resulting in an 11 centimetre cut in her vaginal wall. The argument from the defence was that Gladue’s injury was the result of rough sex which was consensual.
On April 2, the same day as the protests, the Crown announced that it will seek an appeal of the acquittal.
Protesters gathered at the Law Courts building at noon and proceeded to march around the downtown area, finishing at City Hall for a number of speakers, including chiefs from several tribal councils, organizational representatives, and a statement that was read from Gladue’s family. Gladue’s mother and three children were in attendance during the march and rally.
For many, the protest was also in the name of all of the missing and murdered Aboriginal women in Canada. Annual marches are held in February and October to raise awareness of this national issue. Protesters believe that the government is not paying enough attention to the issue.
