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Eye-opening experience for Sudbury woman detained at U.S. border

Couple headed to Women's March on Washington questioned for more than an hour
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Sudbury couple Amber Gazdic and husband Chris Bolestridge were questioned for more than an hour at the U.S. border in Niagara Falls on Jan. 19 while en route to the Women's March on Washington. Photo: Facebook.

Sudbury couple Amber Gazdic and husband Chris Bolestridge were questioned for more than an hour at the U.S. border in Niagara Falls on Jan. 19 while en route to the Women's March on Washington.

Gazdic says it was definitely a "check your privilege" moment for her when border guards grilled her and her husband when they found out where the couple was heading.

"We don't travel very often, maybe once or twice a year just for shopping or for visiting friends or family," said Gazdic. 

"It was interesting because they (border guards) were talking openly about us and not away from us and we've definitely never experienced that in our previous border crossings. We're fairly privileged in terms of being Caucasian, middle-class, and usually travelling with family. So I can definitely appreciate how other people in different circumstances might have that experience every time they cross the border."

Border guards lectured Gazdic and her husband about being more concerned about the issues in Canada rather than what's transpiring south of the border.

"We kind of got the lecture as to the fact that, as Canadians, we should be more concerned about things going on in Canada, such as the decriminalization of prostitution," said Gazdic. 

"I felt it wasn't really prudent to get engaged in that conversation and I didn't want to lead to a situation where we couldn't come in and participate."

Gazdic and Bolestridge will take part in the Women's March on Washington on Jan. 21 and the couple will return home to Sudbury on Sunday.


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