Members of the Okanagan Nation ramped up their protests efforts on Monday, Sept. 21, 2015 as Grace and Pier Robotti, co-accused in the murder of Roxanne Louie, were scheduled to make another courtroom appearance.
(STEVE ARSTAD / iNFOnews.ca)
September 21, 2015 - 1:14 PM
PENTICTON - Okanagan Nation members, some on horseback, gathered outside the Penticton courthouse today to demand justice for Roxanne Louie and ask for an investigation into murdered and missing aboriginal women across the country.
The protesters vow to continue to rally whenever Grace and Pier Robotti appear in court. The brother and sister are accused in the murder of Roxanne Louie and were scheduled to appear in court today, Sept. 21.
Louie was reported missing in early January by Grace Robotti and her body was discovered near Chute Lake a few days later.
RCMP cordoned off a block of Main Street as protesters carrying signs reading "Justice for Roxanne" gathered in front of the courthouse before walking across the street to hold a rally at the Gyro Park bandshell. Friends and family members say they were there to press for justice and keep her memory alive.
Penticton Indian Band Chief Jonathan Kruger addressed the crowd from the bandshell calling the investigation into missing and murdered aboriginal women “a big issue - a sad issue.”
Band member Kevin Gabriel says the idea behind the increased size of the protest is to "keep the awareness alive.”
Protesters, including some on horseback, gathered in bigger numbers than usual outside the Penticton courthouse for an appearance by the co-accused in the Roxanne Louie murder case, Monday, Sept. 21, 2015.
(STEVE ARSTAD / iNFOnews.ca)
To contact the reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad at sarstad@infonews.ca or call 250-488-3065. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
News from © iNFOnews, 2015