A total of 30 activists were arrested and charged with trespassing after refusing to leave city hall Friday night, police confirm to CP24.
The activists gathered outside Mayor Rob Ford’s office at around 12:30 p.m. to protest the lack of shelter beds available to the homeless.
At around 9:30 p.m. the doors to city hall were closed to the public and the protesters were asked to leave, however they refused to do so.
Toronto police then arrived at city hall at around 10 p.m. and began escorting people out of the building half an hour later.
At least one person was led out in handcuffs and another had to be dragged out but most of the protesters were led out peacefully and without handcuffs.
“They knew they were going to be arrested but nobody was detained and they were all cooperative with us,” Staff Insp. Howie Page told reporters Friday night. “When we treat each other with dignity and professionalism that’s how it happens.”
The protest was organized by the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty.
In a press release issued Friday the organization called the city’s shelter bed occupancy rate of 96 per cent unacceptable.
“We are demanding that the city stop lying about the situation and pretending that there are enough beds to meet the needs that exist,” the release states. “Lives have been lost because the shelters are full, many more are at risk and OCAP is taking the necessary action to challenge this appalling neglect.”
According to OCAP, 34 homeless people died in 2012 and six more have died this year.
