More protests against anti-black racism expected across Canada today

By The Canadian Press

Anti-racism demonstrators are expected to gather across Canada today to protest police violence against black people.

The rallies are the latest in a series of protests following the release of a video showing a white Minneapolis police officer kneeling on the neck of a black man, George Floyd, for nearly nine minutes.

Floyd fell still and died, the officer’s knee still on him.

In Toronto, today’s rally will be the third such event over the course of a week.

A similar event on Friday drew thousands of demonstrators, who marched peacefully to city hall chanting “Black lives matter” and “I can’t breathe.”

The city’s chief medical officer of health, Dr. Eileen de Villa, noted Friday that there are risks associated with demonstrating during the COVID-19 pandemic, and encouraged participants to take extra precautions.

She said protesters should make sure they maintain a two-metre physical distance with one another, and wear a mask or other face covering if that’s not possible.

De Villa also said protesters should carry signs and drums rather than shouting to minimize droplets in the air that could potentially spread the virus.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 6, 2020.

The Canadian Press

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