Demonstrators will be gathering in Niagara Falls on Saturday to add their voices to the call for an end to anti-black racism and police brutality.
The peaceful demonstration dubbed #Justice4BlackLives will be taking place along Victoria Ave from 12 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Participants are asked to stand 6 feet apart on the sidewalk and wear black to show unity.
"Niagara Falls is - they're very comfortable in their skin here and they don't approve of things, but they tolerate. Conversations like these are uncomfortable for people who have the belief that they have." Organizer Sherri Darlene says. "People wouldn't think that in Niagara Falls things like that exist. And, 'There's no way she's being discriminated against.' And unfortunately that's not the truth. So when I'm marching on Saturday I'm really thinking about change. I've got hope in my heart for change for everyone."
She says she wants people to be comfortable speaking up when they see something wrong.
Darlene says they have also extended an invitation to the Niagara Regional Police. "They have been accommodating. They even made it very clear to me to before we got started like, 'Before we even start this Sherri, please let me reiterate to you that what happened in the United States, we do not stand by that. We do not condone that as police officers. That was completely wrong and we understand the upset and we understand the need for change."
NRP Chief Bryan MacCulloch says police officers will be attending the rally to show support.
In a statement he adds, "Our objective, as always, is to maintain the public peace and ensure the core values of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms are maintained."