Starlight Tour The Last Lonely Night Of Neil Stonechild
If you are a person of color, you are more likely to be stopped, searched, and arrested by the police than white people. While there are many good cops out there, there are also many bad ones who let power get to their heads, and abuse their authority.
One such example is the tragic story of Neil Stonechild. Neil was a young indigenous man from Saskatoon, Canada, who was brutally killed by the police on a cold winter night in 1990.
The Starlight Tours
Neil's death was not an isolated incident, but rather a part of a larger pattern of police brutality in Saskatoon. One of the most notorious practices of the Saskatoon police at that time was the "Starlight Tours".
So-called "Starlight Tours" involved police officers picking up intoxicated or vulnerable indigenous people, driving them to the outskirts of town, and leaving them there to freeze to death in the cold winter night.
These tours were not officially sanctioned by the police department, but they were well-known among the officers, and were used as a form of punishment or entertainment.
The Last Night of Neil Stonechild
On November 24th, 1990, Neil Stonechild was out with friends, celebrating his upcoming birthday. They were drinking and smoking marijuana, which attracted the attention of the police.
Neil and his friend, Jason Roy, were stopped by two police officers, Larry Hartwig and Bradley Senger. Neil and Jason were beaten up by the officers, and Neil was left bleeding and unconscious in a field outside of Saskatoon.
Neil's body was discovered two days later, frozen to death in the field. An autopsy showed that he had suffered hypothermia and severe injuries to his head and face.
The police initially denied any involvement in Neil's death, but later admitted that he had been in their custody on the night he died.
Justice for Neil Stonechild
Neil Stonechild's death sparked widespread outrage and protests in Saskatoon and across Canada. Many people believed that the police were involved in his death, and demanded justice for Neil and other victims of police brutality.
An inquiry was launched in 2003, which found that Neil had likely been the victim of "involuntary manslaughter" by the police officers involved. However, no one was ever charged with his death, and the officers involved were only disciplined with minor punishments.
The tragedy of Neil Stonechild's death is a sobering reminder of the systemic racism and brutality that exists in our society, and the urgent need for police reform and accountability.
Conclusion
Neil Stonechild was a young man with his entire life ahead of him, who was brutally killed by police officers who were supposed to protect him. His death is a tragic example of the grave consequences of police brutality and systemic racism. We must continue to demand justice for Neil and other victims of police violence, and work towards a more just and equitable society for all.