Protesters claiming to be part of the Black Lives Matter group just shut down one of Toronto's busiest intersections during rush hour.
The corners of Yonge and Bloor were blocked off for a total of 18 minutes on Tuesday morning, according to CP24, beginning at around 8 a.m.
A few dozen people carrying signs that read "Black family matters" and "Let Beverly stay" held hands around the intersection, forming a daisy-chain to stop foot traffic and vehicles from passing through while a press conference was held.
#toronto #yongebloor #blacklivesmatter #cp24 http://pic.twitter.com/hrvZfjAooh
— Markis Augustus (@infinitism) September 19, 2017
The group is protesting the detention and intended deportation of a new mother to Jamaica, according to City News.
Beverley Braham, a Jamaican woman who is married to a Canadian citizen, recently gave birth to a son in Canada.
Earlier this month, an official from Canada Border Services Agency detained both Braham and her infant son, Justin, for three days, according to protesters.
The mother and two-month-old son are now facing deportation, and could be sent back to Jamaica on Sept. 21.
WATCH: BLM's Raven Wngz explains why his group plans to close off Yonge/Bloor instersection at 7:45 http://pic.twitter.com/4hczeD5zp6
— NEWSTALK1010 (@NEWSTALK1010) September 19, 2017
"We need everyone to get behind Beverly Braham – this is a clear cut case of bias against a black woman who challenged the Canadian immigration system," reads a media release issued by Black Lives Matter Toronto on Tuesday morning.
"Beverly should be spending her fourth trimester building her family here and enjoying her new child," the release continues. "Instead, she has been in the fight for her life, and that of her baby, and has faced inhuman detention with her tiny infant."
"This is not just. We are here to say enough is enough."
here the press release http://pic.twitter.com/seCP0vxrX2
— desmond cole (@DesmondCole) September 19, 2017
Protesters at Yonge and Bloor, which include members of Black Lives Matter as well as other advocates for the woman and her son, asked that Braham be allowed to stay until her sponsorship process is complete.
The intersection was back open to traffic shortly after 8 a.m.
by Lauren O'Neil via blogTO
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