Thousands rally in Toronto for woman who fell to her death during encounter with police – #JusticeForRegis
Outcries for justice for Black lives have gone international
Outcries for justice for Black lives have gone international.
Demonstrations took place in Toronto on Saturday in response to the death of Regis Korchinski-Paquet. The 29-year-old Black woman died on May 26 when she plummeted from her apartment balcony after an encounter with local police.
The protest began at Toronto’s Christie Pits Park, where as many as 4,000 people are believed to have turned out to demand justice. The march proceeded to Toronto Police Headquarters, where it ended peacefully, Global News reports.
READ MORE: Toronto woman fell from balcony after encounter with police, family wants answers
The protest, organized by Not Another Black Life, a Toronto group, was publicized on social media with #JusticeForRegis and sought to address matters of anti-Black and anti-Indigenous racism.
Chants of “justice for Regis,” “not another Black life,” “abolish the police” and “no justice, no peace” could be heard during the rally.
Currently: Thousands gather for #JusticeforRegis (the #Toronto woman who died after falling from a balcony earlier this week during an interaction with police) chanting #BlackLivesMatter
Yes, they do. pic.twitter.com/uUu6a74S8f— Renée S. Suen 孫詩敏 (@rssuen) May 30, 2020
“The violence we are experiencing globally is not OK and will never be OK,” a protester told the Canadian news outlet. “If you are tired of reading all these posts and the news surrounding anti-Black racism, guess what, we are tired too — tired of being a walking target and dying every single day.”
Regis Korchinski–Paquet (via Facebook)
Toronto police came across Korchinski-Paquet while responding to a “domestic matter” at the woman’s family apartment on Tuesday. According to family lawyer, Knia Singh, police arrived after Korchinski-Paquet’s mother called 911 out of “safety” and “concern” following a family conflict in the apartment.
READ MORE: Anger over police killings shatters US: ‘We’re sick of it’
After police arrived to the apartment, they were left alone inside the unit with Korchinski-Paquet, who later fell off the balcony from the 24th floor. Singh stated that Korchinski-Paquet called out “Mom, help. Mom, help. Mom, help,” prior to the tragic incident.
Sights and sounds from the #JusticeForRegis solidarity rally and march held in Halifax. The family of 29-year-old Regis Korchinski-Paquet has roots in Nova Scotia. The rally was organized by the Justice for Regis Nova Scotia Coalition. pic.twitter.com/hMBnj7cPxH
— Alexa MacLean 🏳️🌈 (@AlexaMacLean902) May 31, 2020
Protests were organized by the Not Another Black Life group and no violence ocurred during the rally.
“If you are tired of reading all these posts and the news surrounding anti-Black racism, guess what, we are tired too,” one protester said. “Tired of being a walking target and dying every single day.”
https://twitter.com/Morganne_C/status/1266806073224241153?s=20
Have you subscribed to theGrio’s new podcast “Dear Culture”? Download our newest episodes now!
https://open.spotify.com/episode/0kHy6RSJjIaBiGeJYFaUBD?t=0
https://open.spotify.com/episode/2XG71SmYPP80MxutbI1UyO?t=0
