Video of Indigenous woman being restrained at Winnipeg hotel prompts calls for change

A rally took place at the Malborough Hotel in Winnipeg on Sunday after a video taken from the lobby showing a distressed, restrained woman went viral. Leaders have said the woman in the video is from a First Nation in Northern Manitoba, and she was in Winnipeg for a medical appointment.

“That video that went out made a lot of people angry and made a lot of our people upset. And when you call on us, we will be there, because we are there for our people the grassroots people,” said MKO Grand Chief Garrison Settee.

Police say on Christmas Day, hotel staff called them at 10:30 a.m. to remove a loitering woman but they were unable to respond. Just before 1 p.m. hotel staff called police again, alleging the woman had pulled out a knife and attempted to stab a staff member after being asked to leave a second time.

A statement provided by Rakib Hoque, the Marlborough hotel manager, says police advised them to “protect their guests and staff,” which is why they restrained her. “Our only intention was to prevent this young woman from harming herself or others until WPS arrived,” Hoque said. When asked by Global News, police said the use of restraints was justified as a staff member at the hotel had been a victim of assault.

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