Marchers shut down bridge, demand answers about woman’s death

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This article was published 30/08/2024 (402 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The smell of burning sage and fresh paint filled the air as more than 100 people gathered Friday night on the Harry Lazarenko Bridge to plead for a full investigation into the death of an Indigenous woman.

The march was led by Britney Porter, the daughter of Doris Porter, who was struck and killed on the bridge Aug. 10. It is believed Porter, 49, was lying on the bridge when she was hit by a vehicle, and died before paramedics arrived.

The vigil began at the intersection of Main Street and Redwood Avenue with a drumming circle. From there, the crowd walked to the centre of Harry Lazarenko Bridge.

“I will fight for my mom until the end,” Britney shouted, holding a poster with photos of her mother as marchers chanted “say her name” and “no more stolen sisters”

Family members held a prayer and offered tobacco to the water before painting a red dress symbol with the words “Justice for Doris” across both lanes of the bridge. Red handprints were added to the support beams of the bridge with excess paint.

“She was beautiful. She was an Indigenous woman,” said one of Doris’s nieces, Sasha, on behalf of the family. “She did not deserve to have her life taken this way. We refuse to let our mother become another statistic or headline.”

Doris was kind and gave unconditional love, Sasha said. The “indescribable loss” has left family and community members reeling, she added.

An hour after the vigil began, the group made their way toward Hespeler Avenue and Henderson Highway.

Earlier in the day, Winnipeg Police Service spokeswoman Const. Dani McKinnon said police would be present at the vigil but could not provide any updates on the investigation. She said there have been no formal complaints from the family about how police are handling the investigation.

Police were called to the bridge, formerly named the Redwood Bridge, at around 1:45 a.m. Aug. 10 after a woman was hit.

The WPS spokesperson did not say whether the driver, who remained on the scene, was facing any charges.

The Porter family is asking for anyone with information about what happened to come forward to police. Any details are crucial to finding answers, they added.

jura.mcilraith@freepress.mb.ca