TORONTO -- Toronto police have arrested and charged three people following a Black Lives Matter protest in downtown Toronto that left several statues defaced.
The demonstration began at Ryerson University near Dundas and Gerrard streets at 9:30 a.m. where organizers provided comment on the recent push by protesters to defund the police.
At the scene, messages could be seen spray painted on the sidewalk that read “defund, disarm, dismantle, abolish."
As well, the statue of Egerton Ryerson, the school’s namesake, appears to have been splashed with bright pink paint and a sign that reads “tear down monuments that represent slavery, colonialism and violence.”
Ryerson is widely regarded as the architect of the residential school system, which saw Indigenous children taken from their homes and brought to government-funded religious school over the program’s 150-year history. It’s estimated that 150,000 Indigenous children spent time in a residential school where some 6,000 children are believed to have died.
From the Ryerson campus, protesters moved to Queen’s Park, where the statue of Canada’s first prime minister, John A. Macdonald was also painted pink as well as a statue of King Edward VII.
In a news release issued by Black Lives Matter - Toronto, the group says that the statues were "artistically disrupted" in "support of demands to defund the police, invest in communities and create emergency safety services that do not harm Black and Indigenous people."
Rodney Diverlus, co-founder of the group in Toronto, said people had come out for an "art-based demonstration." The aim, he said, was to make a point about racism and police violence.
Anyone angered by the defacing of public monuments was misguided, he said.
"Symbols remain in our city that remind us of white supremacy and anti-Black racism," Diverlus said in an interview. "If people care more about statues than they care about lives, then I would ask them to question their priorities."
Toronto police say they arrived on scene to ensure public safety and assist with with the peaceful protest, which organizers dispute.
Shortly after, police said that a “large group” of people was detained resulting in the arrest of three people.
Police said that the rest of the group was released.
Hundreds demand release of arrested protesters
Chanting "no justice, no peace," "free them now," and "I know that we will win," hundreds have gathered outside 52 Division Saturday evening, demanding the release of the three arrested protesters.
In a news release, police said a 35-year-old Daniel Gooch, a 47-year-old Danielle Smith, and a 35-year-old Jenna Reid have each been charged with three counts of mischief under $5,000 and conspiracy to commit a summary offence.
"We understand we respect the right to protest, but in this incident, where we have statues and monuments that have been vandalized and defaced, the appropriate charges have been laid in this case," Const. Alex Li said during an interview with CP24.
Police initially said Gooch and Smith had been released on a promise to appear. However, Li said all three remain in custody at this time.
Reid is being held for a show cause and will appear in court on Sunday.
"I've spoken to the investigators. They've advised me that all three are still in police custody. They are working on their conditions of release," Li said.
"These investigations are very dynamic in nature, depending on what information comes to light, or if the investigator believes that this person will not appear in court, that will change the conditions of release."
Saron Gebresellassi, who is negotiating the release of all three individuals, said the crowd will remain outside the station until all three are released.
"This is a disappointing turn of events. It did not have to be this way, and I am looking forward to the release of all the arrestees," said Gebresellassi.
"Police at 52 division have made a few missteps have refused to communicate with elected officials, with lawyers, legal counsel, with members of the press. We need leadership. This is not reconciliation, and Canadians are tired of escalating tensions."
Gebresellassi noted that she has spoken to all three after she said they were not given access to a lawyer for hours. Police disputed her claim, saying all three have had access to counsel.
"I've had many clients face all kinds of criminal charges for far more serious affairs who have been released within an hour," she said.
"It seems (they) are being detained almost as pawns in a larger political scenario."
Gebresellassi said one of the protesters needs access to medication. She noted they have doctors lobbying 52 Division to let them provide medical assistance.
Li said he did not have information about the allegation but noted that it is their first priority if police have somebody under arrest who requires medical attention.
Police later said they worked with the individual's family to coordinate the delivery of the medication hours ago.
"All care has been taken to ensure her safety while she has opted to remain in custody," police said on Twitter.
Among those calling for the release of the protesters are univeristy faculty members, civil society organizations across Ontario, and elected officials, Gebresellassi said.
One of them was Toronto councillor Josh Matlow who posted on Twitter that he went to the station to understand the situation.
"I ask you, for a moment, to put aside whether or not you agree with throwing paint on a statue. Because what I witnessed today, should concern all of us..," Matlow said.
The councillor further said that he was with the protesters' lawyer and witnessed how police allegedly denied the lawyer access to her clients several times.
"This can't go on this way. We have a responsibility to change this. We will change this. This is about a basic and reasonable expectation of justice, and access to legal representation," Matlow said.
Gebresellassi said the right next step is to release all three immediately.
"I think we can do so much better, and Canadians deserve so much better than this."
In an update just after 9:30 p.m., police said the three individuals declined to sign the release forms to leave custody.
"They will be released as soon as they sign, and we would like them to do so," police said on Twitter.
In response, Gebresellassi said she would like police to let her inside the station and talk to her clients so that she could negotiate and execute the release.
“If they're saying that's the case, show me the form and let's get a job done and disperse,” she said.
“This can all end in two minutes. But they need to actually speak with a lawyer. Let me review the conditions, sign it and call it a night before things escalate.”
Saunders responds to the protest at 52 Division
Speaking to CP24 on Saturday evening, Toronto Police Chief Mark Saunders said there is tremendous misinformation about the case that is being pushed and supported.
"This is not a case of people being held against their will. It's about people who choose to be," Saunders said.
Echoing what police said earlier, Saunders noted that the individuals refuse to sign a release that says they'll promise to appear in court.
"This is up to them. They can choose whether or not they want to be outright now on this a warm night, or if they want to choose to make a statement and rally up more people," he said.
"They could be out the door right now if they choose to be, but they choose not to."
When asked about allegations that Gebresellassi was not given access to meet her clients for hours, Saunders said the individuals initially did not know that she was the counsel.
"I will tell you that the moment, the very moment that it was identified that she was somehow representing, access to her was given," Saunders said.
He noted that police record all the moments when officers bring people in at their facilities.
Also, Saunders said police facilities are closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"With the thousands of arrests that we have, the procedures are met in accordance to law as is this one. It's unfortunate that things are being manufactured from that end, a little disingenuous," he said.
He also noted that police have addressed the medical needs of one of the protesters as soon as they became aware.
Saunders said the "manufactured" storylines are creating a divide and taking the focus away from the real issue.
"This is kinda like the fork in the road right now, where we've got the world right now with concerned about anti-black systemic racism, and we've got protests where we have parents, we have families, we have people that are truly concerned about what the rest of the world needs to look like on the go forward.
"And then we have others right now that have pink paint on them for allegedly using that paint on statues. And I've got people at 52 division right now (who) are rallying towards that cause."
