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Laureen Harper, holding Gramps, a three-legged cat up for adoption at the B.C. SPCA Vancouver branch, on April 26, 2013, was introducing the Just for Cats Internet video festival Thursday night when activist Hailey King shouted out from the crowd and demanded Ottawa take action on the aboriginal women issue.Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press

Laureen Harper was introducing the Just for Cats Internet video festival Thursday night when activist Hailey King shouted out from the crowd and demanded that the federal government take action on the aboriginal women issue.

Ms. Harper initially continued her remarks before stopping and telling Ms. King that the night was solely about raising money for animals – earning applause from the crowd.

She then told King "that's a great cause but that's another night – tonight we're here for homeless cats."

Harper is a cat foster mom and the feline-starring event was raising money for the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies.

Ms. King says security forced her out of the theatre immediately after the interruption.

"We should all be horrified by this epidemic of racist sexual violence," Ms. King said in a release on Friday. "The United Nations, Canada's own premiers and people across the country are demanding more action on the issue. Yet this government is failing to act."

The Canadian Press/Staff

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