On June 1, Hunter was moved from the lockup in Happy Valley-Goose Bay to Her Majesty’s Penitentiary in St. John’s, which has spurred further protests in Happy Valley-Goose Bay and in St. John’s.
Anne Hamel is one of the protestors in St. Johns she said she’s there to let Hunter know she has support.
“They have the wrong person behind bars as far as I’m concerned,” Hamel, originally from Labrador, told The Labradorian. “Beatrice doesn’t deserve this, she’s standing up for what she believes in and we support her. It’s unreal. It’s like they’re stripping us of our rights. Who is going to be next?”
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Hamel said it isn’t a crime to stand up for what you believe in, which is what Hunter has done. She said all the members of the Labrador Land Protectors in the area are aware Hunter is there and more would be showing up to protest in the coming days.
Jodi Greenleaves, originally from Cartwright, was also at the HMP gates protesting Hunter’s incarceration. Greenleaves said as far as she’s concerned Hunter is in jail for being honest and not telling the judge a lie.
“She’s only here because she was brave enough to stand up in front of that judge and tell the truth and that’s wrong,” she said. “She’s not a violent person, she did nothing wrong, in my opinion. When did fighting for your rights become a crime?”
Brenda Green was also part of the demonstration at HMP and said she thinks Hunter was moved from Labrador because there was too much attention but moving her to St. John’s won’t change that.
Green said they would make sure there’s attention in St. John’s and they’re not going to give up until Hunter is freed.
Green, who is from the island, said she doesn’t understand how an indigenous woman like Hunter, can be told she can’t protest at the Muskrat Falls site, built on indigenous lands.
“Newfoundland doesn’t own that land, the Newfoundland government doesn’t own that land, they own it. When it comes to truth and reconciliation, look at our government — I’m revolted.”
Politicians weigh in
In addition to the protesters at HMP, government officials have called for Hunter to be released or at least moved out of HMP, including Nunatsiavut president Johannes Lampe.
“My thoughts are with Beatrice Hunter at this time,” said Lampe in a press release issued on June 2. “She was detained for a minor offence, something that pales in comparison to the crime of having her locked up at a correctional facility for men — many of whom are violent offenders.”
Lampe questioned the reasoning government gave for not putting Hunter in women’s facility in Clarenville.
“She is not a violent offender, so what’s the real reason why she was sent to St. John’s? Did politics play a role?”
Lampe sent a letter to government in April to ask for all the charges against the demonstrators be dropped and was told it was not governments role to intervene in court matter.
Labrador Member of Parliament Yvonne Jones said she has also called upon Nalcor and the provincial government to drop the charges against all involved to no avail.
Jones also issued a press release regarding Hunters incarceration, saying when she hears of incidents like this she feels an absence of fairness for Labradorians.
She said she is concerned moving Hunter from Labrador takes her away from her family and at times like this all people need family support. Jones said she would continue to assist in any way she can.
The Labradorian
