Protests outside the G20 detention facility at 629 Eastern Ave. have begun.
A group of about 40 people made their way from Allan Gardens to the holding centre – called a staging and deployment facility by the summit’s Integrated Security Unit (ISU) – at around 9 p.m. Friday night.
Shortly after midnight, members of the group Rhythms of Resistance played samba music as they led another group of protesters from Allan Gardens to the Eastern Avenue detention centre following Friday evening’s Shout Out for Global Justice event at Massey Hall.
The group, which defines itself as an activist anti-capitalist transnational network, uses samba as a form of political action.
The protesters gathered to show their solidarity with the detained as well as to raise awareness about the right to an American Sign Language interpreter as well as legal aid for an arrested deaf man.
Emomotimi (Timmy) Azorbo was allegedly detained Friday, June 25 afternoon as more than 2,000 protesters and activists from several organizations gathered for the Justice for Our Communities march at Allan Gardens. Reports indicate Azorbo was arrested after trying to pass police lines near Yonge and College streets to buy a drink from a nearby corner store.
Azorbo has a court appearance today.
OPP Const. Michelle Murphy of the ISU would not provide any comment on this specific incident.
She did say 32 arrests have been made and 51 charges laid in connection with the G20 Summit from June 18 to 25. Murphy would not comment on the specifics of the charges.
The rally outside the massive building, the site of the former Toronto Film Studios, lasted until about 3 a.m. Saturday morning.
-with files from Torstar News Service