Save Our Children Rally at Queen’s Park: Youth Demand Justice Against Gun Violence

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A powerful march for justice filled downtown Toronto on Friday, October 24, as youth, families, and community members gathered for the Save Our Children Rally at Queen’s Park. Organized by the ENAGB Indigenous Youth Agency, the demonstration called for unity and accountability to protect children impacted by violence. The march began at Nathan Phillips Square and moved to Queen’s Park, where participants delivered a petition demanding stronger youth protections, justice reforms, and deeper community investment. The rally was held in memory of eight-year-old Jahvai Roy, an Anishnaabe and Bajan boy tragically killed by a stray bullet while lying in bed beside his mother in North York on August 16. His death has sparked citywide grief and urgent calls for action against gun violence, particularly affecting Indigenous and racialized children. Speakers at Queen’s Park connected the crisis to poverty, trauma, and systemic neglect, urging long-term investments in prevention and healing. The event blended ceremony, drumming, and youth voices, amplifying the leadership of First Nations youth calling for change. Regent Park TV reporters Sam and Fred attended the event. Sam spoke with Holly Roy, Jahvai’s mother, and Briar Perrier of ENAGB, who shared powerful reflections on resilience, justice, and the responsibility adults carry to protect youth. The message from First Nations youth at Queen’s Park also resonates here in Regent Park, where families continue to face the reality of gun violence. The memory of Jahvai Roy stands as a reminder that safety and justice are not privileges — they are rights every child deserves. 

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