Toronto 
People take part in an anti-racism rally in Ottawa, Friday, June 5, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
By the time Prime Minister Justin Trudeau arrived, streams of people clutching signs had made their way on to Parliament Hill and through surrounding streets Friday to protest black lives lost to police.
The Ottawa demonstration was one of multiple events in Canada following days of rallies against racism and police brutality in numerous American cities.
Lori Seale-Irving brought her two teenage sons to the Ottawa march and was pleased to see many young people supporting diversity and inclusion.
“That comes down to what we, especially Canadians, represent,” she said. “We’re trying to treat everyone fairly and equally. I think there’s hope for the younger generation.”
Trudeau came to Parliament Hill with security guards, wearing a black cloth mask.
He clapped and nodded in response to speakers at the front of the crowd, including one who said there is no middle-ground on the issue.
“You are either a racist or an anti-racist,” the speaker said.
The demonstrations followed protests across the U.S. after a video showed a white Minneapolis officer kneeling on the neck of a black man, George Floyd, for nearly nine minutes, even as he pleaded that he couldn’t breathe.
Floyd fell still and died, the officer’s knee still on him.
At one point, the crowd in Ottawa went silent for the time Floyd was held down. Trudeau put one knee to the ground, his head bowed, as others also took a knee around him.
Protesters and the PM take a knee again as folks observe a moment of silence #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/lpk1mawYY4
— Mackenzie Gray (@Gray_Mackenzie) June 5, 2020
Trudeau and the ministers take a knee #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/kAk9ogHYp7
— Mackenzie Gray (@Gray_Mackenzie) June 5, 2020
The Ottawa march was not supposed to go to the U.S. Embassy but wound up there anyway. The mission’s Twitter account promised the building’s lights would be dimmed for nine nights in Floyd’s honour, acknowledging that the gesture was small and not enough.
Demonstrators peacefully chanted, clapped and clutched signs that said, “Demilitarize the police” and “Say their names,” — a slogan urging people to remember and recognize the victims of police brutality by name.
Kaylei Welsford carried a sign saying, “I can’t breathe.”
“I just feel like nobody should have to fear for their life because of the colour of their skin,” she said. “We’re all the exact same on the inside.”
Organizers had asked police to stay away and said they had not invited Mayor Jim Watson, who had indicated he would attend. Police were present throughout the downtown and mostly watched from a distance.
Protesters raise their fists at an anti-racism demonstration reflecting anger at the police killings of black people, in Toronto on Friday, June 5, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
In Toronto, as officers generally kept a low profile, more than 1,000 people walked peacefully in blazing sunshine chanting, “I can’t breathe,” “No justice, no peace,” or “Hands up, don’t shoot.” Others held signs reading “Racism is a pandemic, too” or “Silence is violence.”
They later massed in a sudden downpour, kneeling and raising clenched right fists, with most then dispersing.
Reports and video of problematic police encounters with minorities in Canada have also surfaced recently.
“We’re fed up. We need change and we do not trust police,” said one protester, John Coleman. “Black lives really matter.”
Toronto police Chief Mark Saunders and other uniformed officers met a group of protesters, then Saunders removed his hat, and took a knee at a downtown intersection near police headquarters.
“We see you and we are listening,” Saunders, who is black, tweeted after the meeting. “We have to all stay in this together to make change.”
Ontario Premier Doug Ford praised Saunders’ action, calling it “true leadership.”
Several businesses on downtown Yonge Street and area boarded up their windows in anticipation of Friday’s protest and others planned for the city over the weekend. The landmark Eaton Centre closed until Monday as a precaution.
“Even though Toronto boarded up everything — they must have thought that we were going to be on some crazy hooligan stuff that they only show on the news — but we actually came out here for positivity to get our message out,” said one participant, Blake Gabriel.
Another protester, Junae Watson, said she wanted to show black people are equal to other races.
“People have this conception that Canada doesn’t have a lot of racism, which isn’t true,” Watson said.
While each case needed to be investigated, Trudeau said the larger issue of systemic racism in policing was long-standing and needed addressing.
“Far too many Canadians feel fear and anxiety at the sight of law enforcement officers,” Trudeau said. “Over the past weeks, we’ve seen a large number of Canadians suddenly awaken to the fact that the discrimination that is a lived reality for far too many of our fellow citizens is something that needs to end.”
Change, he said, needed to start immediately but would not happen overnight.
Hundreds also gathered at city hall in Barrie, Ont., to call for justice for black people.
In Washington, U.S. President Donald Trump said everyone deserves equal treatment at the hands of law enforcement. “Hopefully George (Floyd) is looking down right now and saying, ‘This is a great thing that’s happening for our country.’ It’s a great day for him, it’s a great day for everybody.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 5, 2020.
—With files from Jim Bronskill
Colin Perkel and Liam Casey, The Canadian Press
Where there’s a parade you’ll find Trudy.
Mr. Blackface himself
There is no doubt that all lives matter. It is too bad that the policies of this clown overshadow any credibility he might want message to the folks of Canada and the world. Junior is just a failed actor who will find any opportunity to play a role. We would be much better served if we had a PM that understood how our economies work and was bright enough to stimulate them and grow Canada. His only success to date is dividing this great country and pitting one region against another. Well done. What a horrible legacy to leave behind.