Stay Golden: Ongoing Support for Martha Martin

Directly support Martha Martin, mother of Chantel Moore & Mike Martin, in her continued fight for justice.

 

Over the next 2 months, Martha plans to keep making noise and bringing attention to the injustices she has faced: first, the death of her daughter, Chantel Moore, at the hands of police, and then the death of her son, Mike Martin , while in custody at Surrey Pretrial. On May 16-20, Martha, her family, and her supporters are getting ready to participate in the Inquest into Chantel’s death, followed by the 2nd annual #JusticeForChantelMoore Healing Walk. Every part of their fight comes out of pocket, or with the support of community members.

 

Image: Martha Martin surrounded by supporters at the 1st annual #JusticeForChantel Healing Walk,  on the unceded territory of the WSÁNEĆ (Saanich), lək̓ʷəŋən (Songhees), Wyomilth (Esquimalt) peoples in so-called Victoria, BC. 

On June 4, 2020 Chantel Moore, a Nuu-chah-nulth woman and member of the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation, was killed during a police wellness check. Chantel was living in Edmundston, New Brunswick, where she had moved to be closer to her daughter, Gracie, and mother, Martha Martin. Shortly after making this move, Chantel lost her life during a police wellness check. The police officer who shot and killed Chantel, Jeremy Son of the Edmundston Police Force was cleared of any allegations of wrongdoing in November 2021. The Public Prosecution Service said there was “no reasonable prospect of a conviction” after an investigation by Quebec's police watchdog, the Bureau des enquêtes indépendantes. You can find the Attorney General’s report online : (content note: report describes lethal wounds in detail).

 

Nearly 2 years later, Martha and her supporters are getting ready for the Inquest into Chantel’s death in Fredericton. Families whose loved ones are killed by the police have ZERO access to government funding, so Martha, her family, and supporters, will have to cover their travel, accommodation and living expenses to participate in the Inquest and continue the demand for justice.

 

As soon as the Inquest wraps up, she will be on the road, and then back in so-called BC. From May to June, Martha will be organizing and leading the 2nd annual #JusticeForChantelMoore Healing Walk. This walk will begin in Martha’s territory, in Tofino, and will end in Victoria, BC. Eight families in total, all impacted by police murder of their loved ones, are set to converge at the Healing Walk. The Healing Walk will end with 2 days of organizing work, where families will discuss their continued advocacy and strategize on ending murders of Indigenous, Black and racialized community members at the hands of police.

 

Martha’s continued work needs support, and we’re calling on everyone who has witnessed the realities of police brutality, violence and murdered to share and contribute to this fund. All proceeds will support Martha during the May 2022 Inquest and the 2022 #JusticeForChantelMoore Healing Walk.