Hundreds rally in Gage Park against anti-Black racism

Over 200 people rallied Saturday in Gage Park for the protection of Black lives.

The Hamilton protest comes on the heels of high-profile, police-involved deaths in both Canada and the United States. Some of the ensuing protests in the U.S., turned violent.

Shouting slogans of No justice, no peace" and Black Lives Matter," protesters wore face masks and followed physical distancing guidelines while making their message heard along Main Street East near the Hamilton Children's Library.

People denied the organizers were on scene and asked attendees to be safe and leave in pairs avoiding the police who monitored the situation from afar.

Also Saturday, thousands of people took part in a rally in downtown Toronto. Similar protests are planned for Halifax later Saturday and Montreal on Sunday.

A Minnesota police officer is now facing a murder charge in the death of George Floyd, a Black man caught on film pleading for air as an officer knelt on his neck.

And Ontario's Special Investigations Unit is looking into the death of Regis Korchinski-Paquet, who fell from the balcony of a 24th-floor Toronto apartment while police were in the home on Wednesday.

- With files from The Canadian Press