#BLMTOTentCity protesters hold anti-police brutality rally, joined by American Black Lives Matter activists and indigenous activists

TORONTO, March 26, 2016 /CNW/ - At 4:00 p.m. today, Black Torontonian communities will be joined by allies from all over the city in a rally to protest anti-Black racism in policing. The action is part of a larger protest organized by Black Lives Matter – Toronto: #BLMTOTentCity. For a week, Protesters have been camping outside of the Toronto Police Service's Headquarters, in condemnation of the decision by the Special Investigations Unit not to charge the police officers who murdered Andrew Loku. Despite being attacked by Police on Monday night. #BLMTOTentCity has garnered massive support through social media and has sparked solidarity demonstrations across the country from Nova Scotia to British Columbia. Black Lives Matter activists from the United States have travelled to Toronto to participate in the action today.

"It only makes sense that Black Lives Matter activists from the United States would join us," said Sandy Hudson, co-founder of Black Lives Matter – Toronto. "The legacy of anti-Blackness in colonialism has always been shared by African people across the diaspora, regardless of contemporary borders that encourage us to believe otherwise. We have to recognize this and show up for one another in our resistance efforts."

The rally is set to take place at Toronto Police Headquarters (40 College Street) and will feature art, song, poetry and speeches from #BLMTOTentCity participants. #BLMTOTentCity has been supported by a strong indigenous presence, with the Six Nations flag flying over the camp each day.

"#BLMTOTentCity has been getting support from so many different communities, from Asians for Black Lives to the Tamil Freedom Coalition. The support, energy and welcome we have received from the indigenous community has meant so much, given how colonialism has affected both our communities," said Janaya Khan, co-founder of Black Lives Matter – Toronto. "From enslavement to dispossession to genocide, Black and Indigenous communities have experienced the most brutal confrontations with racism the history of this world has to offer. We must support one another in our struggles for justice."

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.

SOURCE Black Lives Matter - Toronto

Sandy Hudson at [email protected] or 416-722-8842; Rodney Diverlus at [email protected] or 647-456-8476; #BLMTOtentcity