Walk for Justice started June 21st

Murdered and Missing Women Honoured and Remembered

On June 21, 2008, Walk4Justice co-founders Gladys Radek and Bernie Williams, joined by a dedicated group of walkers, began their first walk to Ottawa. Walk4Justice arrived in Ottawa on September 15, 2008 and with family members of murdered and missing women, community activists and community leadership marched to the steps of Parliament. They presented documentation of over 3000 missing and murdered women and a petition signed by 2900 people calling for inquiries into these cases to MP Libby Davies and MP Jean Crowder. Walk4Justice walked again to maintain awareness of murdered and missing women in 2009 and 2010. Walk4Justice will begin their walk once more today on National Aboriginal Day on June 21, 2011.

"When we walk, we meet many families who lost a daughter, a mother, a sister. We share their grief and smiles as they each recount story after story of how much they miss their loved ones," said Gladys Radek. "What is most disturbing is how many people tell us how difficult it is to convince police that their case is not about a runaway who will turn up soon in another city but an urgent case about a missing person who could not come home. We are walking for our elders, our youth and children yet to come."

Bernie Williams stated, "It is a hard journey every time we walk. But we know, deep in our hearts, we need to honour the many beautiful women who have yet to make it home or will never be able to come home. We walk because we want accountability and justice."

Sue, one of this year's walkers, observed, "There needs to be reform of the judicial system, law enforcement practices and all levels of government and leadership must work together so we may move forward into a society free of systemic neglect and discrimination."

"When a government is so quick to respond to a hockey riot with an independent inquiry or so quick to form a task force into the deaths of sled dogs and yet need to be publicly shamed into calling an inquiry into murdered and missing women, it is clear we need a national public inquiry to address the whole of the problem. We need to address the racism, poverty, homelessness and domestic violence epidemics in this country," said Bernie Williams.

On behalf of the Walk4Justice families we would like to thank all our volunteers and sponsors for their participation, donations and genuine care for all of us as we walk to honour our beautiful women, children and men.

Contact information:

Gladys Radek, (604) 569-5989 or frillyfrog08@yahoo.ca

Bernie Williams (604) 568-8701 or skundaal@yahoo.ca

For more information about the Walk4Justice, 2011 route plans, photos and how to donate go to: http://fnbc.info/walk4justice