This morning, the Encampment Support Network Toronto (ESNTO) held a press conference outside Mayor John Tory's condo in support of "the 50+ encampment residents & defenders ticketed/charged for standing up against the City's brutal evictions," they said on Twitter.
On September 14, ESNTO invited their followers on Twitter to come down to Mayor Tory's condo on the morning of September 16. According to a news release issued on September 16, Toronto Police arrested three people.
ESNTO tweeted that their first speaker for the press conference, Skyler Williams, was "grabbed by two plainclothes officers and shoved into an unmarked vehicle which sped away to an unknown location." TPS confirmed that Williams was arrested and will be charged with failure to comply with recognizance.
IMMEDIATE CALL TO JOIN PEACEFUL JAIL SUPPORT AT DIV 14\n\n****TWO MORE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ARRESTED WHILE LEAVING THE PRESS CONFERENCE, ALONGSIDE SYLER WILLIAMS. PLEASE COME DOWN TO DIVISION 14 (350 Dovercourt Rd) \u2014 BUDDY UP IF YOU CAN. WE ARE STANDING PEACEFULLY IN SUPPORT. ****— Encampment Support Network Toronto (@Encampment Support Network Toronto) 1631812426
Eight more are wanted for protests against the clearing of the homeless encampment at Lamport Stadium back in July.
Following the City of Toronto's trespassing notices on June 12, TPS moved to clear the encampments at Lamport Stadium Park on July 21, where clashes between police and protesters ensued. More than two dozen people were arrested that day.
"Crowds of protesters gathered at the closed park to interfere with the City's efforts and to confront police," police officials wrote in the September 16 release. "Repeated efforts were made to engage with people and inform them that a Trespass to Property notice had been previously served by the city and they were required to leave."
Police allege that on July 21, a large crowd gathered in front of the 14th Division where they became hostile and threw objects at officers.
