Special to Rebel Youth
As Black Lives Matter–Toronto’s Tent City
outside Police Headquarters in downtown Toronto enters its 2nd week,
participation and solidarity have continued to grow.
Here Rebel Youth is republishing statements,
videos and media releases from the past week, which talk about
why this action is taking place, the demands of Toronto’s Black communities, and provide an overview of the brief but important history of this ongoing
struggle.
Saturday, March 19th
(The day before the “BlackOUT for Justice”
rally and the beginning of BLM TO’s Tent City)
BLM TO statement on Facebook:
"This week, Toronto’s Black community was inundated with anti-Black violence from the state at every turn. From the erasure of another Black community festival in Toronto, to the slaying of two Black community members to the SIU decision not to charge the police officers responsible for murdering Andrew Loku. The Black communities of Toronto have waited over six months for a decision that confirms what we have always known: the system is set up to protect an anti-Black police system that continues to target, brutalize and destroy Black communities, Black dignity and Black life.
"This week, Toronto’s Black community was inundated with anti-Black violence from the state at every turn. From the erasure of another Black community festival in Toronto, to the slaying of two Black community members to the SIU decision not to charge the police officers responsible for murdering Andrew Loku. The Black communities of Toronto have waited over six months for a decision that confirms what we have always known: the system is set up to protect an anti-Black police system that continues to target, brutalize and destroy Black communities, Black dignity and Black life.
**********
THE [REDUCTION] OF AFROFEST IS AN INJUSTICE
ANDREWS LOKU’S DEATH IS AN INJUSTICE
JERMAINE CARBY’S DEATH IS AN INJUSTICE
ALEX WETTLAUFER’S DEATH IS AN INJUSTICE
MELKIORO GAHUNGU’S DEATH IS AN INJUSTICE
STATE VIOLENCE AGAINST BLACK COMMUNITIES AND
BLACK CULTURE IS INJUSTICE
**********
Mayor Tory and Police Chief Saunders said
that we should wait for the “independent” Special Investigations Unit report.
They said to be patient. They said to trust the process.
****
And what has that gotten us?
****
Just as we saw when the SIU protected Jermaine
Carby’s murderers from the courtroom, the SIU has protected Andrew Loku’s
murderers in the same manner. The officer(s) responsible for Jermaine Carby’s
death will not be charged for his murder.
*****
We WILL hold an action this weekend. Come
through and help us organize it.
****
This is for Black art. This is for Black
love. This is for Black family. This is for Andrew Loku. This is for Jermaine
Carby. This is for Alex Wetlaufer. This is for Melkioro Guhungu. This is for
Kwasi Skene-Peters. This is for Sumaya Dalmar. This is for all Black folks in
this city who have been unjustly restricted, carded, surveilled, assaulted or
murdered by police. This is for all Black folks globally resisting anti-black
racism and state-sanctioned violence.
***
Not. Another. Black. Life.
***
In rage,
Black Lives Matter – Toronto”
Sunday, March 20th
BlackOUT for Justice rally ends with a tent city starting at City Hall then moved to Toronto Police Headquarters
BlackOUT for Justice rally ends with a tent city starting at City Hall then moved to Toronto Police Headquarters
Monday, March 21st
"MEDIA ADVISORY
BLACK LIVES MATTER TORONTO PRESS CONFERENCE
TO COMMEMORATE INTERNATIONAL DAY AGAINST RACISM
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MONDAY, MARCH 21ST, 2016
TORONTO - Black Lives Matter - Toronto
activists will hold a press conference this morning at 7:30am in honour of
International Day Against Racism and to ask for accountability from Toronto
Police Services, City of Toronto, and Mayor John Tory.
Activists spent the night camping outside
Toronto Police Services Headquarters and will continue to do so in protest of
this past week’s recent cases of anti-Black racism. Yesterday, hundreds of
community members came to protest and denounce the Special Investigation Unit’s
decision not to indict the officers who killed Andrew Loku, the City’s decision
to shrink Afrofest, and recent police killing of Alex Wettlaufer.
What: BLMTO International Day Against Racial
Discrimination Press Conference
When: Monday, March 21, 2016
Time: 7:30am.
Where: Toronto Police Headquarters- 40
College Street
Who: Black Lives Matter – Toronto
Black Lives Matter-Toronto have delivered
these demands to the Mayor John Tory and Police Chief Mark Saunders:
-The immediate release of the name(s) of the
officer(s) who killed Andrew Loku & Jermaine Carby.
-Charges to be laid against the officers who
killed Mr. Loku.
-The immediate and public release of any
video footage from the apartment complex where Andrew Loku was murdered.
-An Apology to the family of Andrew Loku and
monetary compensation.
-A review of the Special Investigations Unit,
with adequate consultation from families victimized by police violence,
-A reversal to all city-mandated changes
imposed on Afrofest, including its restoration to a 2-day festival
Black Lives Matter-Toronto is the Toronto
chapter of #BlackLivesMatter, an international organization and movement
fighting anti-Black racism all over the world."
That evening police attacked the protest:
6pm – From Facebook:
"URGENT REQUEST FOR SUPPORT:
Fam, the police are threatening peaceful
protesters who are camped out in front of Toronto Police Headquarters to demand#justiceForAndrewLoku.
We are peacefully demanding justice for Andrew Loku and crucial changes to the
anti-Black police accountability system.
There is no reason to destroy another Black creation in this city. But just as they showed up last night in riot gear at Nathan Phillips Square, they are threatening us again today.
There is no reason to destroy another Black creation in this city. But just as they showed up last night in riot gear at Nathan Phillips Square, they are threatening us again today.
We need as many people as possible to come down and show support! Please come and join us. The more of us who are here, the less likely they are to harm us and destroy #BLMTOTentCity
Come through!!"
9:30pm – From Facebook:
"Toronto Police have physically attacked
peaceful protestors. We are regrouping and accounting for everyone, but so far
reports include punches, hits, shoves, and other physical assault. This
includes young women, queer folks, organizers, and non-organizers alike. Stay
tuned for updates fam #BLMTOtentcity"
12am – From Facebook:
"Update- Hour 30:
The warmth we are feeling from folks from
across the globe is keeping our internal fires alive. Some folks are hurting,
some folks are in shock, some folks are angry.
But the fight continues. We are still out
here resisting, existing, occupying"
Tuesday, March 22nd
The Tent City’s energy grows and the action
receives solidarity from the Canadian Federation of Students and the Toronto
Muslim community.
Wednesday, March 23rd
"MEDIA ADVISORY
BLACK LIVES MATTER - TORONTO PRESS CONFERENCE
TO RESPOND TO CARDING REGULATIONS AND TO DENOUNCE RECENT POLICE VIOLENCE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23rd, 2016
TORONTO - Black Lives Matter - Toronto
activists will hold a press conference this morning at 7:30 a.m. to respond to
the Province’s recent carding regulation announcement. Yesterday, the Province
announced it has passed its proposed carding regulations, to come into effect
January 1st 2017. These new regulations fall short at eliminating carding, nor do
they incorporate the bulk of concerns raised by community, including: the
elimination of racial profiling, the deletion of previously collected carding
data, and more.
Black Lives Matter - Toronto will also
address recent police violence at their protests. On monday evening, dozens of
police officers surrounded and ambushed dozens of peaceful protestors who were
participating in a Black Lives Matter action (#BLMTOtentcity). Without
warning or order to disperse, the police formed a line around protestors and
pushed through, resulting in protesters being punched, shoved, slammed to the
ground and physically assaulted in other ways by officers. The crowd was
composed of young people, women, children, and some elders.
Activists have been camping outside of
Toronto Police Services Headquarters for four days now and will continue to do
so in protest of this past week’s recent cases of anti-Black racism: the
Special Investigation Unit’s decision not to indict the officers who killed
Andrew Loku, the City’s decision to shrink Afrofest, and recent police killing
of Alex Wettlaufer.
What: #BLMTOtentcity Press Conference
When: Wednesday, March 22, 2016
Time: 7:30 a.m.
Where: Toronto Police Headquarters-40 College
Street
Who: Black Lives Matter – Toronto
Black Lives Matter-Toronto have delivered
these demands to the Mayor John Tory and Police Chief Mark Saunders:
-The immediate release of the name(s) of the
officer(s) who killed Andrew Loku & Jermaine Carby.
-Charges to be laid against the officers who
killed Mr. Loku.
-The immediate and public release of any
video footage from the apartment complex where Andrew Loku was murdered.
-Apology to the family of Andrew Loku and
monetary compensation.
-A review of the Special Investigations Unit,
with adequate consultation from families victimized by police violence,
-A reversal to all city-mandated changes
imposed on Afrofest, including its restoration to a 2-day festival
About Black Lives Matter - Toronto
Black Lives Matter-Toronto is the Toronto
chapter of the #BlackLivesMatter network, an international organization and
movement fighting anti-Black racism and state-sanctioned violence."
By Wednesday evening news came that Afrofest
had been restored to a 2-day festival. The first victory of the BLM Toronto
action!
From Facebook: “WOOT! Afrofest back to a 2
days! Congrats Music Africa & thousands of ppl pushing on social media.
Torontonians were writing op eds, starting online campaigns, petitions, calling
their city councillors, etc.
If this week has taught us anything is that
people power is the best kind of power #BLMTOtentcity”
Thursday, March 24th
“MEDIA ADVISORY
BLACK LIVES MATTER - TORONTO and LAWYER,
SARON GEBRESELLASSI
PRESS CONFERENCE TO ANNOUNCE LAWSUIT AGAINST
TORONTO POLICE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 2016
TORONTO - Black Lives Matter - Toronto will hold a press conference this afternoon at 4:00 p.m. alongside Litigation Lawyer, Saron Gebresellassi, to announce a lawsuit against the Toronto Police Service.
Activists have been camping outside of Toronto Police Services Headquarters for five days now and have been highlighting various forms of anti-Black racism against Torontonians.
What: #BLMTOtentcity Press Conference
Who: Black Lives Matter – Toronto and Lawyer,
Saron Gebresellassi
When: Thursday, March 24, 2016
Time: 4:00 p.m.
Where: Toronto Police Headquarters-40 College
Street
About Black Lives Matter - Toronto
Black Lives Matter-Toronto is the Toronto chapter of the #BlackLivesMatter network, an international organization and movement fighting anti-Black racism and state-sanctioned violence.
Legal Counsel Saron Gebresellassi is a Human Rights and Personal Injury Lawyer representing Plaintiffs across Ontario and the United States.”
On Thursday evening, the Tent City entered
the police station to deliver legal papers with lawyer Saron Gebresellassi. The
lawsuit is being filed by a Black mother who’s home was illegally raided and
searched by Toronto police.
Friday, March 25th
The Canadian Union of Public Employees –
Ontario, the Toronto and York Region Labour Council, the Black Action Defense
Committee, and many more unions and organizations publicly express solidarity
with BLM TO’s Tent City. Hundreds of artists sign a joint statement.
Saturday, March 26th
Thousands participate in the “BlackOUT
Against Police Brutality” demonstration at the site of the Tent City.
Protestors rally around the Tent City’s demands.
Sunday, March 27th
The Tent City continues and raises a new banner!
"We ain't/ going nowhere/we ain't goin no where/ we can't be stopped now"
How to help
Sign the solidarity statement – for
organizations and individuals
Follow #BLMTOtentcity for information on how
to support and ways to plug in
Like BLM TO on Facebook
Like BLM TO on Facebook
For donations, email
info@blacklivesmatterto.ca with the subject: "Donation"
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