Hundreds of anti-racism protesters crowded Waverley Park for a Black Lives Matter demonstration Friday afternoon.
Chants of “No justice, no peace, no racist police” could be heard for much of the afternoon.
All of this is to call for an end to systemic racism, especially in the police system, following a week of worldwide protests. They were sparked by the killing of George Floyd, a black Minneapolis man. Four current or former Minneapolis Police officers are charged in his death.
People also chanted “I can’t breathe,” one of the last things George Floyd said before he died.
A march around Waverley Park began with a moment of silence for Floyd. Protesters walked for eight minutes and 39 seconds, the amount of time a police officer knelt on Floyd’s neck.
Signs and speeches also acknowledged Regis Korchinski-Paquet, who died after police responded to her Toronto apartment on May 27th, and Louisville, Kentucky Emergency Medical Technician Breonna Taylor. Taylor died on March 13 after plain-clothes police officers entered her apartment.
The Anti-Racism & Respect Advisory committee says it stands in solidarity with Black Lives Matter and the local protest.
“Peaceful protests and demonstrations are essential to encourage respectful conversation, educate ourselves and others, bring about change and challenge the status quo,” says Chair Jason Veltri.
Organizers put up signs suggesting how people can continue to oppose systemic racism after the demonstration ended. It directed attendees to read and learn about racism and how to be an ally, listening to Black and Indigenous people, volunteering, and donating to fundraisers and local organizations like Shelter House.
They also marked the ground with spay paint to make sure people stay at least six feet apart to prevent a COVID-19 outbreak. People were handing out masks to anyone without one.
Police Chief Sylvie Hauth was in attendance.
A sign reads “Respect existence or expect resistance.”
A person holds a cardboard sign reading “Racism is a Canadian problem,” next to another person with a sign reading “This is not the time 4 silence, Black Lives Matter”
Thunder Bay Police Chief Sylvie Hauth speaks to people at a Black Lives Matter protest in Thunder Bay.
