SUDBURY -- Black Lives Matter Timmins is holding a rally Wednesday at noon at Mountjoy Historical Participark, and police are advising motorist to expect delays in the downtown area.
The group's Facebook page says the goal is "to raise awareness against police brutality towards black people and (people of colour)." Protests have broken out across the world in reaction to the death of George Floyd, and African American man who suffocated while a Minneapolis police officer held his knee to Floyd's neck.
In a news release, Timmins police said organizers plan to form into an organized group "in the area of the Participark in Timmins at noon today.
"The group is going to march from the Participark and proceed in an orderly fashion eastbound on Algonquin Boulevard with city hall being their intended destination," the release said.
Once the group has reached city hall, there will be speeches "and the group is expected to disperse afterwards in a peaceful manner," the release said.
"The Timmins Police is collaborating with the organizers so that the safety of the attendees is enhanced and so that traffic flows in the affected area are mitigated."
A release from Public Health Sudbury & Districts advise taking precautions if you are marching to keep yourself and others safe from COVID-19:
- Keep to groups of five or less.
- Wash your hands and bring hand sanitizer.
- Be respectful of people’s space—stay two metres apart from others.
- Practise physical distancing as much as possible.
- Wear a non-medical or cloth mask.
- If you are sick, stay home.
- Monitor yourself for symptoms of COVID-19.
- Shouting may spread droplets—consider other instruments for making noise.
- Follow public health advice.
Depending on the size of the march – 149 people said on Facebook they plan to attend -- police may have to limit or stop traffic near city hall for safety reasons between noon and 2 p.m.
"With the above in mind, the Timmins Police urge that regular commuter traffic and commercial motor vehicle traffic consider using alternate routes in order to avoid traffic delays or interruptions," the release said.
"The Timmins Police Service respects any group’s right to gather for the purposes of peaceful demonstration to draw public attention to any legitimate cause."
