A Toronto march organized in support of pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong was prevented from going forward on Saturday after a clash with counter demonstrators.
A few hundred people gathered outside Old City Hall on Saturday afternoon with the intention of marching around the Eaton Centre in solidarity with protestors in Hong Kong, who are in their 10th week of advocating for an extradition bill to be withdrawn.
The bill would allow residents to be extradited from Hong Kong to China, something protestors say could heighten risk for activists and those critical of China.
Protestors are also calling for the resignation of Hong Kong's leader Carrie Lam, democratic elections and an independent investigation into the police’s use of force.
Gloria Fung, one of the organizers of the march and president of Canada-Hong Kong Link, said that when they arrived at Old City Hall, they were met by members of a pro-China group who was chanting “one China” and was blocking the protesters from leaving the area.
“They do not have a permit to stage this rally here,” Fung told reporters. “They are only here to jeopardize our freedom of expression. In Canada we show zero tolerance to this kind of intimidation and harassment.”
Fung also alleged that some volunteers and organizers had been attacked in the clash. Toronto police have confirmed that no one was physically injured.
CTV News Toronto tried to speak to pro-China protestors, but many would not speak to on camera. One man said that reporters and civilians were being attacked by protestors in Hong Kong.
“We want one China. Anything can be negotiated, but we want to talk in peace,” he said.
Video from the rally shows the two groups yelling at each other while waving flags and holding signs that say “we are not rioters” and “withdraw the extradition bill.”
Pro-China protestors chant “one China” across from supporters of Hong Kong chanting “keep up Hong Kong”. March to support HK delayed due to clashes. @CTVToronto pic.twitter.com/8EiUfoZtgx — Miranda Anthistle (@Mirandanthistle) August 17, 2019
Fung said that instead of marching, the group will remain outside Old City Hall in “peaceful protest.”
“This is Canada. We have the constitutional right to freedom of expression. No one can take that from all of us.”
Fung also called on the Canadian government and the international community to take action.
Earlier in the day, Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland issued a joint statement with her European Union counterpart condemning the violence in Hong Kong.
“For the last two months, large numbers of citizens have been exercising their fundamental right of assembly. However, there has recently been a rising number of unacceptable violent incidents, with risks of further violence and instability,” the statement reads.
“It is crucial that restraint be exercised, violence rejected and urgent steps taken to de-escalate the situation.
schitty on August 18th, 2019 at 00:51 UTC »
I wonder how the "one China" counter protestors would react if they were told they were being extradited from Canada to China...
Xcopa on August 17th, 2019 at 23:44 UTC »
Canadians died trying to defend Hong Kong in World War 2. The fact that people would attempt to 'counter-protest' (smother/distract from) a march in favour of the freedom of Hong Kong's citizens, IN CANADA is disgusting and frankly insulting.
Vorenvs on August 17th, 2019 at 23:25 UTC »
The PRC killed approximately 30 million people in the 20th century while enacting policies that have amounted to cultural genocide. Today, they have hundreds of thousands of ethnic Uyghurs in concentration camps for “re-education.” And yet there are people in our own society who support this brutal regime?
I see little difference between them and any other anti-democratic ultra-nationalists. China represents something truly frightening.
Meanwhile, kudos to the brave Torontonians who showed up in solidarity with Hong Kong.