A protest against anti-Black racism, sparked by the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, is underway at OPP General Headquarters on Memorial Avenue.
A group of about 17 demonstrators are on site. A few of them are near the front entrance and police are trying to get them to return to the roadway, saying the roundabout laneway in front of the building is not a public space.
Demonstrators are trying to convince police to come out and kneel with them.
Sgt. Kerry Schmidt briefly took a knee near the beginning of the protest, but no others have done so.
Emotions have been running high with one protester in particular, the only Black person present. He has told officers he will not leave and that he wants to talk to the highest-ranking OPP member on site.
At the moment, demonstrators are speaking with police and there have been no attempts to have the protesters removed.
More to come.
