CalgaryPhotos

Protest against racism and police brutality in Calgary draws thousands

"We don't just have a lot of people here, we have Hispanics, we have whites, we have Indigenous,we have Filipinos, Chinese ... all stand[ing] together and united," said Cecy Gaskin, one of as many as 2,000 Calgarians who marched through downtown Calgary on Wednesday in the third rally in the city this week against racism and police brutality.

It's the third time this week Calgarians have peacefully gathered in wake of George Floyd's death

Joel Dryden CBC News Posted: Jun 03, 2020 7:10 PM EDT | Last Updated: June 4, 2020

Calgarians march for justice

4 years ago

2:59

As many as 2,000 Calgarians took to the streets Wednesday afternoon as part of the YYC Justice for All Victims of Police Brutality protest.

Thousands of Calgariansjoined their voices with countless concurrent protests against racism and police brutality across the globe once again on Wednesday, marching from Kensington to city hall.

The march was the third anti-racism demonstration in Calgary this week in solidarity with widespread demonstrations that have swept the United States and around the worldafter the death of George Floyd a 46-year-old black man who was killed after a white police officer kneeled on his neck for more than eight minutes.

The march was the third demonstration in the city in this week in solidarity with the widespread protests that have swept the United States and around the worldafter the death of George Floyd a 46-year-old black man who was killed after a white police officer kneeled on his neck for more than eight minutes. A large portion of the attendees at Wednesday's march wore masks, and volunteers offered hand sanitizer to those who gathered because of the COVID-19 pandemic. (Leah Hennel for CBC News)

Floyd's final words "I Can't Breathe" were chanted by themarchers in Calgary as they crossed the 10th Street bridge, along with other phrases such as "No Justice, No Peace" and "Black Lives Matter."Floyd's death is onein a long line of high-profile killings of people of colour in the U.S. involving police.

Cecy Gaskinwas one of the protestors who took to the streets on Wednesday to fight against injustice.

"This is beautiful what's happening right now, it's amazing. But I strongly believe that we need to also focus on the injustice that is still happening," Gaskin said.

"We're always being broken down by society and we're sick and tired of it."

She called the protest emotional and empowering.

"We don't just have a lot of people here, we have Hispanics, we have whites, we have Indigenous,we have Filipinos, Chinese. It wasone of the first times I've ever seen them all stand together and united."

A protester shows a photograph of George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man who was killed after a white police officer kneeled on his neck for more than eight minutes. His death, one of the latest in a long line of black people who have been killed by police in the United States, was one of the catalysts for anti-racism demonstrations across the U.S., in Canada and around the world (Leah Hennel for CBC News)

Godfred Addai, a participant in the protest, said he hadhis own run in with police six years ago.

"It happens right here in Calgary, in your backyard, right here:no justice here," he said.

The YYC Justice for All Victims of Police Brutality protest travelled through downtown Wednesday towards city hall, with some chanting 'no justice, no peace, no racist police.' (Leah Hennel for CBC News)

The protest began in theKensingtonarea at 2 p.m. before the main march group moved through downtown and towardcity hall.

A huge crowd of anti-racism protesters are crossing the 10th street bridge in Calgary. pic.twitter.com/xaCWcuri8U
—@browncbc

Just before they arrived, a counter-protester wearinga Trump T-shirtwas handcuffed and led away bypolice after he tried to take the protest leader's megaphone.

A protestor was also transported to hospital after falling from a structure and sustaining a head injury.

The main march group has arrived across from city hall. Right before they got here, a Trump supporter was arrested by police after a verbal altercation with a group of protestors #yyc #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/GMKcwlFAYO
—@elisevonscheel

Everyone Ive talked to at this protest in Calgary has said the same thing: Canada treats racism like a U.S. issue, but they want people to know its here in Canadian cities too #yyc #georgefloyd #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/2j2Mdu44cT
—@elisevonscheel

Traffic throughout the city's downtown core was expected to be impacted throughout the day. Memorial Drive was reopened to traffic around 5 p.m. MT.

A candlelight vigil took place at Olympic Plazalater in the evening.

Calgary police estimated somewhere between 1,000 and 2,000 people were participating in the protest.

It was one of a series of anti-racism events planned this week.

On Monday, more than1,000 Calgariansmarched fromEast Villageto City Hall.

On Sunday, a thunderstorm didn't prevent about 100 protesters from gatheringin Fish Creek Park.

Another event held in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement is scheduled on Saturday, whena vigil will be heldat 4 p.m. outside of City Hall.

The Calgary Police Service posted a statementto Twitter after the event concluded, writing that "there is much work to be done."

For the second time this week, over a thousand Calgarians gathered to have their voices heard. We continue to be proud of our citys ability to come together, be heard and support one another. We hear you, #yyc. There is much work to be done and we are committed to serving you.
—@CalgaryPolice

Anti-racism protesters marched from Kensington to Olympic Plaza today. Hopefully these shots capture the size of Calgary's third #BlackLivesMatter protest this week. pic.twitter.com/raSCHste4P
—@browncbc