A Protest To Demand Justice For Jean René Junior Olivier Is Planned Outside Montreal
Olivier was killed by police on Sunday.
A sit-in protest will be taking place Wednesday, August 4, calling for justice for Jean René Junior Olivier, a Black man killed by police in Quebec on August 1, 2021.
It will take place in Repentigny, where officers shot Olivier after responding to a 911 call. His mother, Marie-Mireille Bence, said her son was in distress and in need of help. Quebec's Bureau des Enquêtes indépendantes (BEI) has launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Olivier's death.
Bence spoke out against police action in a press conference, explaining she had called the police because she believed her son was "in danger." She then went on to express her loss of faith in the police, referring to them as "criminals."
"I called for help and I found my son on the ground," she said.
Information about the upcoming sit-in demanding justice for Olivier was shared on the @defundthespvm Instagram account, with the caption: "Justice for Jean René Junior, a Black man who was killed by police this weekend while he was in need of mental health support. We are absolutely devastated for his family and friends. Lakay Media has organized a sit-in outside city hall in Repentigny to demand justice for Jean-René and am victims of racial profiling."
"Enough is enough."
The sit-in protest is scheduled for 6 p.m.
This article's cover photo was used for illustrative purposes only.