A group of protesters have gathered at a railroad crossing near Tyendinaga Mohawk reserve to demand justice for murdered and missing indigenous women. (Frederic Pepin/Radio-Canada)
from CBC
Protesters near the Tyendinaga Mohawk reserve in southern Ontario have blocked the Montreal-Toronto Via Rail line to draw attention to missing and murdered aboriginal women.
The blockade is at Marysville, Ont., between Belleville and Kingston.
“Today is a national day of action. A call was put out and this is how we chose to take our part. Today is about raising awareness and gaining support for the issue of murdered and missing indigenous women. It’s a national issue and we choose to take part in unity with other nations,” said Karahkwinetha, a protester who would only give her first name.
Via Rail’s media relations manager Jacques C. Gagnon said Marysvilleis a popular site for railway blockades.
“We had hints since late last night that there would be a blockade,” Gagnon said.
Train service between Montreal and Ottawa is still running. However, service between Toronto and Ottawa has been halted.
Trains traveling in the Montreal-Toronto corridor have been replaced by chartered buses.
Ontario Provincial Police in Smith Falls, Ont., have confirmed that Wyman Road/Highway 2 in Tyendinaga is also blocked.
Earlier this month, protesters from the Tyendinaga Mohawk reserve blocked a highway over what they said was a lack of action on investigations into missing and murdered aboriginal women.
