River Run 2024 - Walk with Grassy Narrows for Mercury Justice

August 27, 2024

Update from Grassy Narrows

8,000 people took to the streets to march with over 100 Grassy Narrows community members to say loud and clear, "We Are Not Going Away!" This was an incredible show of solidarity with a huge cross-section of movements.

Together we sent Doug Ford and Justin Trudeau a clear message: they need to compensate Grassy Narrows fairly for the ongoing mercury crisis and end industrial threats to Grassy Narrows

Thank you to everyone for sharing, supporting, mobilizing, organizing and showing up yesterday to make River Run 2024 a huge success!

Please share our socials below to send a message to Trudeau and Ford that they need to deliver on mercury justice!

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Twitter

Major news outlets showed up to cover the River Run Rally. Check out https://freegrassy.net/recentnews for the full list of coverage.

Please stay tuned for upcoming ways to support Grassy's fight for justice! In the meantime you can click on this action toolkit for ways to organize your communities in support of Grassy Narrows

On September 18, 2024 at 12 p.m., ONA members, Board and staff will be marching with members of Grassy Narrows First Nation in Toronto. Grassy Narrows people are powerful leaders in the movement for Indigenous sovereignty and environmental justice. They have shown that together we can fight for justice against all odds and make real gains, but so much is still needed to right the wrong of mercury poisoning in Grassy Narrows.

Through a series of events, we hope to bring attention to ongoing issues of mercury poisoning and its lasting effects on the community located an hour from Kenora, ON.

RSVP here to say that you will show up in solidarity and walk with them in their fight for justice.  RSVP is intended to help organizers plan for the day but is not mandatory to attend the event.

March Time and Route

River Run will begin at 12 p.m. with an opening ceremony and a few speeches from members of the community. It is anticipated we will begin marching around 1 p.m. The march will start at Grange Park (Beverley St & McCaul Street, south of Dundas Street West, behind the AGO and OCAD.) and end at Queen’s Park. Once at Queen’s Park there will be time for more speeches and the event should end around 3 p.m. Final details are still coming in from event organizers so please check back for updates.

Meeting Location

The rally will start at the southernmost part of Grange Park where Stephanie and John St. connect (see image).

March Guide

  • Masking is encouraged and masks will be provided.
  • Indigenous participants are invited to wear their regalia.
  • Settlers are asked to wear blue if possible.
  • ASL interpretation will be available as well as an accessible van for people with mobility issues and snacks for anyone who needs them.
  • Please come prepared with water as it will be warm!

This is a family-friendly event. Rain or shine!

Transportation to and from Outside of the GTA

Those living outside of the Greater Toronto Area are welcome too! To reserve a spot on a *bus from another city, click on the links below:

*Transportation is being organized and provided by community members of the various cities.

Get Involved!

  • Print and post the flyer.
  • Donate
    • Financial donations are welcome! Please use this link.
  • Volunteer
    • River Run organizers are looking for folks to help out with handing out snacks and water, marshalling, and more! Please fill out the volunteer form to sign up and get further information!
  • Use your Voice!

Learn More


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