Cancer research crusader Betty Fox dies

Betty Fox, the mother of cancer research icon Terry Fox, has died.

A news release from the Terry Fox Foundation, which she helmed for 30 years, said she "passed away peacefully surrounded by love" on Friday morning.

Fox, who was in her early 70s, was being cared for at a hospice in Chilliwack, B.C., during the final weeks of her life.

"We have greatly appreciated the privacy granted to our family since Betty's illness was shared and are hoping it continues at this difficult time," the Fox family said in statement.

Reactions pour in

B.C. Premier Christy Clark referred to Betty Fox as a "great Canadian" who "embodied all the qualities that as British Columbians we admire."

Heritage Minister James Moore said Betty Fox was a "pillar of support" for her son during his cross-Canada run and that she continued the spirit of Terry's fight against cancer.

As a young bone cancer survivor with an artificial leg, Terry Fox won hearts with his run across Canada to raise money and awareness about the disease. His goal was to persuade every Canadian to donate one dollar to the cause.

His 1980 "Marathon of Hope" was halted near Thunder Bay, Ont., as he suffered a recurrence of the disease.

Terry Fox died on June 28, 1981, but not before becoming, at that time, the youngest person ever to be awarded the Order of Canada.

B.C. NDP Leader Adrian Dix said "from Terry's Marathon of Hope to expanding his legacy through the Terry Fox Foundation, Betty always carried herself with quiet determination and dignity."

Rick Hansen, Canada's Man in Motion, said Betty Fox was a "remarkable woman, who will be sorely missed. Her enthusiasm and compassion were infectious, and her tireless dedication to pursuing Terry's dream inspired millions to believe in a world without cancer."

Betty and her other son, Darrell, set up and ran the Terry Fox Foundation following his death, raising more than $550 million for cancer research in 28 countries through the foundation's annual Terry Fox Runs. The first run was held on Sept. 13, 1981.

Betty Fox quit her job in order to travel the world, listen to the stories of other cancer sufferers and advocate on her son's behalf for increased research funding.

In 2007, Fox had her hair shorn during the Fox Family Head Shave, the opening event of the Terry Fox at Work Day fundraising initiative.

Betty Fox was chosen as one of the Canadian flag bearers in the opening ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

Recently, Fox had been working with Vancouver artist Douglas Coupland on a project to redesign the memorial to her son outside BC Place in downtown Vancouver.

The tile archway that was erected in the early 1980s is being replaced with a memorial that will include four bronze statues of the one-legged runner from Port Coquitlam, B.C. The sculptures will show Terry Fox's signature hop-and-run style in stop-action steps.

On June 3, media reports suggested that Betty Fox was suffering from cancer.

But a statement released by the Terry Fox Foundation later that day clarified that she was seriously ill, but not with cancer.

She is survived by her husband, Rolly, and her children Darrell, Fred and Judy.

SF Bay transit cop convicted in killing released

A white former San Francisco Bay area transit officer convicted in the fatal shooting of an unarmed black man that has drawn continuing protest was released from jail early Monday after serving one year of a two-year sentence, officials said.

Johannes Mehserle managed to slip away from the Los Angeles County's Twin Towers jail shortly after midnight unseen by a few protesters in the street as well as waiting reporters.

Sheriff's Department spokesman Steve Whitmore told The Associated Press that Mehserle was freed from custody at 12:01 a.m. Monday.

Mehserle's attorney, Michael Rains, told KTVU-TV on Monday that precautions were taken because there were too many safety concerns to let his client just walk out of jail.

When asked if Mehserle can go home again, Rains said sounded optimistic.

"Well, we don't know. We'll know more about that in the next 10 days to two weeks," Rains said. "We hope he will be able to go home because he has always called Northern California home and he really doesn't want to call any place else home.

"But if he can't go home, he's going to call another place home and he will go there with his family and he will live a productive life."

Mehserle, 29, was convicted last July of involuntary manslaughter in the shooting death of Grant, 22, on a Bay Area Rapid Transit train station platform in Oakland on New Year's Day 2009.

He served his time in Los Angeles after his attention-getting trial was moved to Southern California.

The shooting continues to spark debate, racial tension and occasional protests that have turned violent. Last fall, more than 150 people were arrested in Oakland hours after Mehserle's sentencing.

On Sunday, about 300 protesters held a fairly peaceful demonstration in downtown Oakland as they vented their continued frustration over the shooting and the Mehserle's release.

"The people know it was wrong," said Jabari Shaw, 32, a protester who had also attended Mehserle's trial. "As much as we want justice, we're still not getting it."

A judge ruled Friday that Mehserle should be given credit for time served and good conduct.

The shooting was recorded by bystanders, and video posted online showed the Bay Area Rapid Transit officer firing a bullet into the back of Grant, 22, as he lay face down after being pulled off a train, suspected of fighting.

The videos were subsequently used as evidence during Mehserle's murder trial and posted online, further stoking the racial tensions brought on by the shooting.

Facing a second-degree murder charge and a maximum 14 years in prison, Mehserle tearfully testified at his trial that he meant to use his stun gun instead of his .40-caliber pistol.

Jurors found that while Mehserle didn't mean to kill Grant, his behavior was so negligent that it was criminal. He received a two-year sentence for involuntary manslaughter.

Grant's uncle, Cephus "Bobby" Johnson, was among those waiting in vain outside the L.A. County jail late Sunday night to witness Mehserle's release.

"There's much rage in our community," he said. "It's a shame that our children still have fear from police officers that come into our communities."

Grant supporters in Los Angeles later Monday plan to march to the U.S. Attorney's office and demand that the Department of Justice look into possible federal civil rights violation.

A civil lawsuit against Mehserle and several other officers involved with Grant's shooting is still pending.

Grant's family attorney, John Burris, on Sunday urged the Oakland crowd before their march downtown to remain peaceful as they exercised their freedom of speech.

"There's still an opportunity for all of us to continue our sense of outrage, our sense of frustration at the (criminal justice) system and do what we can through public speaking, through organizing, community involvement to continue his legacy," Burris said.