Natasha Grodzinski, Centretown News
Black Lives Matter demonstrators protest at Ottawa city hall.About two-dozen protesters supporting the Black Lives Matter movement appeared at city hall Wednesday morning, interrupting a city council meeting, and chanting “No justice! No peace! No racist-ass police!”
The group waved posters and collected donations for Black Lives Matter Toronto, expressing solidarity with the Toronto coalition of the protest movement, following the deaths of two Canadian black men shot by police – Andrew Loku in Toronto and Jermaine Carby in Brampton, Ont. The officer in question for Loku’s death, whose name is not yet released, was not charged by the Special Investigations Unit in Toronto following an inquiry into the incident.
Last night, Black Lives Matter protestors in Toronto stood outside of police headquarters to demand the name of the officer be released and that he be charged. Following this demonstration, protesters in Ottawa decided to publicly voice their support. Today’s protest was organized by the Student Federation of the University of Ottawa.
Somerset Coun. Catherine McKenney came out of the council meeting, which was placed in lock down after the protestors arrived, to speak with the group about the Black Lives Matter mural that was defaced back in 2015, saying it disturbed her.
A spokesperson for the group told media that this is a national issue, not just one in specific cities around the country.
After chanting for about 20 minutes and collecting donations, approximately a half-dozen police officers arrived, including tactical officers. The group eventually left city hall without incident.