March 28, 2016

Black Lives Matter TO’s Tent City: a look back at the first week

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.

**********

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


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.

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

For donations, email info@blacklivesmatterto.ca with the subject: "Donation"


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