A tense day of protests in Leslieville outside the G20 detention centre at 629 Eastern Ave. appears to have come to a fairly peaceful end after an anticipated anti-prison protest slated to start at the nearby Bruce Mackey Park failed to get underway.
Anarchists planned to gather at 5 p.m. for the Fire Works for Prisons Demonstration.
Van-loads of police officers were prepared to greet them and ensure the demonstration didn’t get out of hand.
Earlier this afternoon, June 27, several people who had participated in the Bike Block rally also made their way to Eastern and Pape avenues. Several clashes with police ensued throughout the afternoon as a number of protesters were detained.
Police implored protesters to clear the area and move northbound on Pape Avenue so that more detainees could be released.
The crowd eventually dissipated around 6 p.m. with many protesters traveling westbound along Queen Street East.
Police are still on the scene should the situation flare up again.
- Joanna Lavoie