Black Lives Matter in Toronto and Montreal - Caribbean

RADIO - G 98.7 FM Mark & Jem in the Morning - Toronto, 01/06/2020 - FEATURE, English

Summary: Mark Strong - “Justice for Regis” chants echoed throughout the streets of downtown Toronto Saturday afternoon as 4,000-odd people or more demanded answers in the death of 29-year-old Regis Korchinski-Paquet, who fell from her apartment balcony in High Park while police were present. The host said he was part of the protest with his kids and that it's important for the kids to be part of this moment. His daughter is part of the organization of the protest and he is proud of her for that. The protesters were originally going to go to Queen's Park. The reason they went to the police department was that a protest was happening at Queen's Park already by White supremacist groups who were protesting about opening the economy. They were doing that every single Saturday. So the protesters didn't want to dilute their cause or have any confrontations, so they went to the police department. Most people in the crowd wore a mask, which is what organizers asked them to do. Their message for police was that they want justice. What that means will be up to the SIU to determine. The host said it was a peaceful protest but very impactful. He said they have a lot more work to do and this was just the beginning of the mobilization. Anti-racism protests in Montreal demanded justice for different reasons, between George Floyd, Regis and problems in policing in Montreal. Unfortunately, the protest turned to violent ends. Montreal police declared the gathering illegal after projectiles were thrown at officers, who responded with pepper spray and tear gas. Store fronts were broken and merchandise stolen. Thousands marched to stand up for Canadians targeted for no other reason than the colour of their skin. Montreal police have been plagued by allegations of racial profiling and excessive force for years. Last fall, an independent study showed a Black person was four times more likely to be stopped by officers. Tensions are still lingering after 18-year-old Fredy Villanueva was shot and killed when police broke up a dice game more than a decade ago. For officers of colour, the protests are a painful reminder of the healing that needs to be done.

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