Lots of activity at Lamport stadium, hearing reports further evictions could be carried out here this morning. Members of the Encampment Support Network and allies are gathering
A couple of UHauls on site where some residents have been loading some belongings. The residents of this park requested help in defending their encampment, yesterday at Alexandra Park residents requested observation and support
A human wall of allies, support workers, and residents is forming along the perimeter. Organizers say they are aware that police are staging close by, so far only a few visual cop cars near the encampment
Drone up in the air surveying the scene, security teams seen in the distance but have not yet shown up here at Lamport Stadium
Security, police now on scene in full force
The view inside looking out at Lamport Stadium
Group now having a short press conference talking about why they don’t want to leave and their plans to defend the area
Residents chanting “do your job” to city officials, they say they have not been heard and would like to speak with city officials inside the encampment
There is a small medical table in the centre of the encampment - one nurse I spoke with says they are preparing for things like pepper spray or rubber projectiles and want to do what they can to treat people in case violence occurs
Both sides of the stand off - not clear when any movement or action will begin
People inside speaking across a line of police bikes to supporters on the outside of the fence
From @cityoftoronto: “All individuals experiencing homelessness in this encampment, estimated to be between 14 and 17, are being offered safe, indoor space, with access to meals, showers and laundry, harm reduction, physical and mental health supports, and a housing worker”
“Occupants will be given time to pack two bags of belongings to take with them. All other belongings will be collected and stored for up to 30 days for future pickup. There are more than 30 structures on-site, including tents and makeshift structures”
City security are now going around and informing people that they need to start packing up, if they remain in the enclosure they could be arrested
Some people starting to move items
More people gathering around the fence with messages of support for those inside
Officials found around making “final offers” - one police officer said the city is marking the tents with spray paint if there are still residents inside
People on the exterior of the fence chanting “Let them live”
Quite a different experience where media have been allowed to stay, yesterday journalists were not allowed inside the fenced off area
A large line up of officers have assembled at the south end of the area, media has been told to leave and if we stay we are trespassing
What the assembled journalists were told as a warning by city security moments ago
Both sides
Fence has been breached
More from Lamport stadium as cops have started doing what they call a “walk through”
Residents and allies quickly assembled a wall of palettes
More images from the encampment clearing
Police quickly tore down the barricade set up
People would form human chains, police would break them up
Police tearing down tents, leading some away in handcuffs
Police cleared through this camp in roughly 20 minutes
Police then worked their way through the exterior of the fence forcing bystanders to leave, several people arrested in this portion of the process
More arrests from the perimeter
Arrests and aftermath at Lamport Stadium
For the most part all residents and supporters have been removed, city staff and police now surveying the area
My colleague @ConsumerSOS is taking over the coverage of the encampment evictions here at Lamport stadium, catch the full update tonight on @globalnewsto
Will post additional pictures and video from today’s events in a bit
A few more videos from this afternoon: I would say this was the moment right before things became very heated, people chanting “housing is a human right” moments before the police moved in to tear down the barricade they had set up
This was moments after, police tore through forcing people to move back, and farther towards the north end of the encampment
This was the final push where the majority of people were removed from the encampment, you can hear several directions to the media to move back, despite being behind several rows of police officers
After everyone was removed, police then pushed the crowd further towards the top of the street, media were allowed to stay inside the enclosure
We heard reports of an officer who got hit with pepper spray, not clear if the man hunched over is that officer, can confirm this man was splashing water in his eyes trying to clean them out
Some people remained in their tents after the first police pass through, officers then went back and made additional arrests
From Toronto Police re: arrests & charges @ Lamport Stadium
“We will be issuing a news release later today once we have all the arrest information in but I can tell you that there were some criminal charges including for assault, but most were under the Trespass to Property Act”
Via my colleague @ConsumerSOS who was along the other side of the police line as they moved through the encampment
Another take down and arrest, at one point police appear to use a baton on the individual’s back as they flip them over
And now bins and heavy machinery brought in. Clean up crews work to clear the rest of the remaining items and debris from the area
Hearing reports things are escalating at 14th division where many people went who were at the evictions at Lamport Stadium, one contact told me pepper spray being used. We have a camera in the way for @globalnews - please tag me or respond with videos if you are there
Video from 14th division:
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