Not one more.
Not one more death.
Not one more detention.
Not one more deportation.
Not one more death.
Not one more detention.
Not one more deportation.
Today we come together
with grief, sadness, frustration,
anger and rage
at the death of Lucia Vega Jimenez.
Who came in 2010 to canada seeking refuge.
We are gathered here to express our rage,
frustration, sadness and grief at her loss,
[ Tracey Mann
No One Is Illegal ]
and the countless loss
of so many migrants and refugees.
She was detained by CBSA (canadian
border services) officials
after being apprehended by Translink authorities
for not having adequate fare.
On december 19th she was transferred
to a facility at the airport.
The next morning on december 20th
she was found one hour after she had hung herself.
We don't know very much
[ Rocco Severo
Community Member ]
.
the timeline of what happened.
We know that she was in the airport cell
and then brought back to another cell
and back and forth.
But at this point she had spent at least 2 weeks
in a maple ridge jail.
Why did she spend so much time in jail?
This person referred her to mental health services
because obviously she was having a hard time.
They didn't allow her to have those 2 appointments
because almost immediately
she was transferred again to another jail.
CBSA has the responsibility to give an answer,
[ Karla Lottini
Journalist ]
because Lucia is not the first immigrant
that lost her life.
Stop this from happening.
We had a death in 2012, same deportation.
[ Ruby Walji,
Relative of Walji family:
2013 Deportation Order Lead to Murder-Suicide ]
There was another one in 2011, 2012,
then 2013.
This is 2014 and we got the same thing
happening again: deportation death.
But what a wonderful thing it is to see so many people from so many places,
[ Rev. Emilie Smith,
Anglican Priest ]
saying "nadie es ilegal".
No one is illegal.
The deportations must end.
The deaths must end.
And we call an end to all detentions.
We immediately order a full, transparent,
and independent civilian inquiry
and investigation into the death
of Lucia Vega Jimenez,
while under CBSA custody.
Cruel and punitive conditions of migrant detention
such as indefinite detention,
as well as the new Refugee Exclusion Act
that permits mandatory detentions
and a two-tier refugee system,
we call that this must come to an end.
Nobody should be set in this condition.
of taking their own life.
It is the most disgraceful, and I would say sinful
thing that has happened.
This is something that goes against
the very laws of humanity,
and the very laws that I would say our Creator made.
To love one another, and to care for one another.
[ crowd singing ]
... I send my love... into the earth...
Not one more detention.
Not one more deportation.
Not one more death.