Before a courtroom packed with supporters, Tsleil-Waututh Land Defender Will George was sentenced to 28 days in jail for breaching the Trans Mountain Expansion (TMX) pipeline injunction and was immediately taken into custody. BC Supreme Court Justice Shelley Fitzpatrick deferred to the Crown’s recommended sentence and all but ignored arguments from defence counsel for why George should instead be sentenced to community service hours and probation.

Today was Day 2 of George’s sentencing hearing. Yesterday, Justice Fitzpatrick stated in the morning that she had not read George’s 16-page Gladue report, which lays out his childhood history and cultural background, and gives reasons why the court should consider non-custodial sentencing options. Although Fitzpatrick has had the report for months, she took only a 15-minute break to scan it, after which she was ready to sentence George the same day. “It was clear from Fitzpatrick’s tone and attitude in court that Will George’s Gladue report, and the principles on which it’s based, don’t matter to her,” said Rita Wong, a supporter of Will George.

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