In the strongest of terms, Moms Stop the Harm is profoundly disappointed by the Crown’s decision to appeal the stays of convictions against DULF co-founders Eris Nyx and Jeremy Kalicum.
While an appeal of the BC Supreme Court’s constitutional ruling was not unexpected, the decision to challenge their individual stays as well is extremely troubling. In her reasons, Justice Murray recognized that Eris and Jeremy had brought a successful constitutional challenge, “thereby doing the public interest a service at considerable personal cost.”
The decision to pursue them further stands in stark contrast to that recognition. They have already paid an enormous personal price for taking action to keep people alive. Seeking to overturn their stays compounds that burden and sends a chilling message to others working to prevent deaths amid an ongoing public health emergency.
Families across Canada deserve a response focused on ending preventable deaths. Continuing to pursue people who acted in the face of government inaction does nothing to make the drug supply safer or bring our loved ones home.
We unequivocally stand with Eris Nyx, Jeremy Kalicum, DULF and everyone fighting for drug policy grounded in evidence, human rights, dignity, and survival.
As Justice Murray told Eris and Jeremy in court: “It’s people like you who make a difference, and you just did. So, go do great things.”
They deserve the opportunity to do exactly that.
This work is not over.
