Protesters call for closure of The Ranch Roadhouse after man's death

More than one hundred people gathered outside The Ranch Roadhouse on Friday night callingfor justice for Mohamed Abdi, who died after being kicked out of the bar on a cold night this month.

Abdi, 20, was kicked out of the south Edmonton bar on Nov. 16 because bouncers thought he was too intoxicated, friends say. His body was found two days later under a truck at a nearby car dealership.

It was -16 C the night he left the bar. His family believe he froze to death.

• Kicked out in the cold: Family blames bar after Edmonton man, 20, dies in street
• Province investigating death of young man ejected from Edmonton bar

A school bus full of demonstrators arrived in the parking lot Friday at around 7 p.m., two hours before the bar was set to open.

Bundled up for a chilly night, they held signs calling for the bar to shut down.

"We need justice for my nephew," said Abdifatah Abdulkadir, Abdi's uncle and one of dozens of people wearing shirts with his nephew's face printed on the front.

Abdulkadir said he was "thrilled" by the support. As of Friday night, more than 25,000 people had signed a petition calling on the Ranch to seek training, hire new and qualified staff or shut down completely in the wake of Abdi's death.

AGoFundMepage to supportAbdi'sfamily has raised more than $10,000 in four days.

"Next year, we don't want to see another young man die on the streets,"Abdulkadirsaid.

A spokesman for the Ranch said employees took steps to ensureAbdi'ssafetyand noted that he left the establishment with a friend. In a statement, The Ranch apologized andsaid the bar has launched an internal investigation.

The Edmonton PoliceServicedeemedAbdi'sdeath non-criminal and is not investigating.

Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabisisinvestigating. Last November,AGLCalso investigated the hypothermia death of TylerEmes, 18, who left the same bar after a night of drinking. No sanctions were issued.

'He was a role model'

Abdi'smother was away on vacation in Kenya when her son was found dead.Abdihad initiallyleft on that tripwith her, but cut it short so he could return home to train for a fitness test with the goal of joining the military,Abdulkadirsaid.

His mother did not speak withCBCNews at Friday's demonstration and spent most of the evening in a car, overcome with emotion.

"She cannot even stand. We brought her here to see how many people are supporting her son,"Abdulkadirsaid.

The oldest of eight siblings,Abdiarrived in Canada from theKakumarefugee camp in Kenya when he was six.

"He was a role model for the family and now he's gone," his uncle said.

Agar Agar grew up with Abdi, or "Mo" as he was known to friends.

He was with his longtime friend the night he went missing.

Agarsaid he himself was drunk and in no state to take care of Abdi, and can only remember pieces of the evening. They lost track of Abdi after going to a gas station across the street, one of the few places of refuge nearby in an area dotted with plazas and auto repair shops.

"You're not supposed to make drunk people babysit other drunk people," he said.

"At least get them home and get them safe."

Jordan Gizowski'sforearm was covered in a bandage as he stoodalongsideAbdi's friends on Friday night. Underneath, abanner wraps around a cross bearingAbdi'sinitials, hisbirth dateand the date he was found dead.

"He's my best friend. He was the closest guy that I had and now he's gone. So I had to get a memory of him," Gizowskisaid.

He's my best friend. He was the closest guy that I had and now he's gone.- JordanGizowski

Gizowski said he was also at the bar the night of the incident and stayed up for hours searching for his friend.

"We drove past the place he was found five or six times. It just hits me harder because we could've found him," he said.

Nathan Monteiro said he was amazed to see new faces at the demonstration. He said it bespoke his friend's charismatic and joyful personality.

"I loved him to death and he deserves justice. He needs it. We all need it."