Article content
Jace Waaskaahiikin takes little solace in the decision by the Ottawa Crown Attorney’s office Friday to stay mischief charges against him and 11 fellow demonstrators who were protesting against systemic racism when they were arrested in the early-morning hours of Nov. 21 at the intersection of Laurier Avenue and Nicholas Street.
“They really did fulfill the thing we were there to protest,” said Waaskaahiikin, who travelled from his home in Kitigan Zibi to the Ottawa demonstration to join a coalition in support of Black and Indigenous lives. “Like we said, the police don’t uphold, to any degree, the space needed for Indigenous and Black people in Ottawa.”
Posted: Dec 11, 2020 11:37 AM ET | Last Updated: December 11, 2020
During the two-day demonstration last month, protesters erected tents at the intersection of Laurier Avenue W. and Nicholas Street, near the University of Ottawa campus.(Francis Ferland/CBC)
Charges against 12 people arrested during a demonstration in support of Black and Indigenous lives last month have been stayed.
The two-day protest involved several advocacy groups including the Justice for Abdirahman coalition. Dozens of people blocked the intersection of Laurier Avenue W. and Nicholas Street, encircling the area with caution tape and erecting tents.
Police dispersed the demonstration around 3:30 a.m. on Nov. 21, removing protesters and charging 12 with mischief to property. That caused an uproar among the protesters, as well as several city councillors the protesters had been set to meet with members of the police services board later that day.