Protests in Ottawa, Toronto for change in DRC
Posted Feb 16, 2012 07:29:48 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
OTTAWA On., – A crowd of protesters forced the closure of downtown streets in Ottawa and Toronto Thursday afternoon calling on the Canadian Government to step in and demand the resignation of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s current president, Joseph Kabila.
Despite loud and sometimes profane chanting, the demonstration in Ottawa was mainly peaceful as nearly 200 people marched from Parliament Hill down Rideau to Sussex. They then added a detour to the United States Embassy where they were met by police in riot gear. Following a brief sit-in at the intersection of Sussex and Rideau, the group moved east down Rideau to Charlotte Street. There one man was arrested for refusing to leave the intersection.
The group then moved to the front of the Congolese Embassy on Range Road in Sandy Hill where they were met by dozens of officers in riot gear and barriers more than three gates thick blocking the entire street in front of the building which was vandalized months ago in a separate protest.
Organizer Henriette Yakibonge told 1310News the group had planned to maintain a peaceful protest Thursday and on any future gatherings.
“We don’t want any violence. They hear us now,” she said, adding people have been responding to their protests and they still hope to see change.
In Toronto, dozens of people protesting events in the African country of Congo danced and waved flags in front of the consulate on University Avenue.
Police officers stood by and watched the crowd, including some on horseback.
At one point, some of the protesters began charging the line of police but backed off when the mounted officers appeared.
