People protest in support of Six Nations land defenders in downtown Toronto Saturday - CityNews Toronto

Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in downtown Toronto on Saturday afternoon to call for an end to anti-Indigenous police brutality.

The group gathered outside the Ontario Ministry of Indigenous Affairs office on Bloor Street to call attention to provincial police actions against a group of Six Nations land defenders at a disputed construction site in Caledonia, south of Toronto.

Hundreds of demonstrators have blocked the intersection of Bloor/Church calling for an end to anti- Indigenous police brutality outside the Ontario Ministry of Indigenous Affairs @680NEWS @CityNews pic.twitter.com/BcEnqgqpqz

— Michelle Mackey (@michellemackey) September 12, 2020

According to the OPP, 21 people have been arrested for occupying the site at McKenzie Meadows since July 19 while organizers of the rally say the number of people arrested is closer to 26.

Six Nations of the Grand River community members have been occupying the proposed housing development after provincial police removed several demonstrators from the residential site back on August 5 in accordance with a Superior Court injunction.

The development had previously been approved by the Six Nations of the Grand River elected council, however, the demonstrators – who are members of the hereditary council – say they do not recognize the authority of the elected band council.

The demonstrators say the land for the proposed development was not legally obtained but a statement posted on July 24 by Six Nations leaders said they had been accommodated for the two residential developments by Ballantry Homes with both money and additional lands transferred to the reserve.

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2020-09-12 17:53:38Z
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