When author and former teacher Jim McMurtry pulled up to WJ Mouat High in Abbotsford to set up for his book launch, he noticed that aside from a few adults standing outside the main entrance, the schoolyard was empty.He quickly realized that institution he once taught at had been evacuated ahead of the event."They all went out the west end of the school," McMurtry explained in an interview with the Western Standard. "They were single file in groups of two, and there were teachers there moving them quickly so they couldn't look about us. You could see kids looking at us, and teachers pushing them along."He added that instead of congregating on the field as is typically the case, students "were told that they could just go home two hours early.".McMurtry went on to note that after parking his car, he was approached by two men who turned out to be undercover police officers informing him he had to be 20 metres away from school property. Without resorting to a measuring tape, they agreed that the sidewalk on the opposite side of the road was far enough, and left him alone..Abbotsford school division asks former teacher to move location of book launch to avoid 'intimidating' indigenous students.On May 29, the night before the launch, the Abbotsford School District sent McMurtry a letter asking him to change locations. The superintendent cited the subject matter discussed in the book, The Scarlet Lesson, arguing that it was "intimidating" indigenous students. He also said the event "falls within what is understood to be a 'protest'."In the book, McMurtry goes against the prevailing narrative on residential schools in Canada, contending that indigenous students were not killed, but instead died from diseases. He has also countered the claim that mass graves have been found at the sites of former schools..While many of the students simply left, others had to wait around until the actual end of the day to get picked up. McMurtry said a number of them came and spoke with him; some were inquisitive, and others were "hostile.".Footage of the book launch shows McMurtry and his supporters peacefully sharing their message. No incidents involving him were reported,.WJ Mouat High School and the Abbotsford School District were reached for comment.
