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BREAKING NEWS: Emotions run high at anti-racism protest at OPP GHQ

About 17 demonstrators are on site; Some have gathered near the front entrance, prompting police to urge them to return to the roadway
racism protest outside OPP GHQ June 2020
A small protest is being held right now at the OPP's General Headquarters in Orillia. This smaller group has gathered near the front entrance. Police have asked the demonstrators to move to the roadway. A larger group remains at the roadway. Nathan Taylor/OrilliaMatters

A protest against anti-Black racism, sparked by the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, is underway at OPP General Headquarters on Memorial Avenue.

A group of about 17 demonstrators are on site. A few of them are near the front entrance and police are trying to get them to return to the roadway, saying the roundabout laneway in front of the building is not a public space.

Demonstrators are trying to convince police to come out and kneel with them.

Sgt. Kerry Schmidt briefly took a knee near the beginning of the protest, but no others have done so.

Emotions have been running high with one protester in particular, the only Black person present. He has told officers he will not leave and that he wants to talk to the highest-ranking OPP member on site.

At the moment, demonstrators are calmly speaking with police and there has been no attempts to have the protesters forcefully removed.

More to come