To Express Solidarity, Justin Trudeau Kneels Down With Protesters At Black Lives Matter Rally

Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, took a knee in a show of solidarity with demonstrators at a rally against anti-Black racism and police brutality in Ottawa.

According to reports, Trudeau, wearing a black mask and surrounded by bodyguards, made a surprise appearance at the "No justice = No peace" rally in front of the Parliament.

Twitter/@begjani51

Canadian protesters chanted ¡°Stand up to Trump!¡± to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as he joined thousands at an anti-racism rally.

Protesters shout ¡°Stand up to Trump,¡± as Prime Minister @JustinTrudeau attends an anti-racism rally on Parliament Hill. pic.twitter.com/fvebwCtgPg

¡ª Power & Politics (@PnPCBC) June 5, 2020

In the Black Matter Movement, kneeling down is a gesture used to protest against police brutality and the treatment of African-Americans by police.

¡°You are either a racist or an anti-racist,¡± the speaker said.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took a knee while attending a demonstration on Parliament Hill that was organized to protest racial injustice and police brutality.

Read more here: https://t.co/EqqbPu1nbu pic.twitter.com/Ae1fcO8va1

¡ª CTV News (@CTVNews) June 5, 2020

The protest was one of many scheduled for Canadian cities in wake of the death of George Floyd, a Black man who died after a police officer held a knee to his neck during an arrest, in Minneapolis.

The protests was organized by 'No Peace Until Justice' as part of a slew of protests against police brutality and systemic racism around the world, following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

The crowd observed nine minutes of silence, which is the amount of time former Minneapolis police officer, Derek Chauvin, kept his knee pressed on Floyd's neck.

The Prime Minister walked up to the Hill to listen. He gets some applause, at least one thank you, as he walks from his office up to the gates. pic.twitter.com/oGkoBIk9PD

¡ª Abigail Bimman (@AbigailBimman) June 5, 2020

According to a CNN report, the Ottawa Public Health asked all the people who attended the protest to wash their hands, clean their belongings and put their clothes in the wash, all to help minimize the spread of the coronavirus.

While Trudeau did not speak at the event, he clapped and nodded along with some of the other speakers.

Earlier this week, PM Justin Trudeau took a 21-second pause before answering a question about Trump¡¯s threats to call in the military to respond to U.S. protesters.

Trudeau, after the long pause said that Canada was watching in ¡°horror and consternation.¡± Trudeau avoided naming Trump in his response and shifted the focus upon race relations and tensions in Canada. In all fairness, the reporter did ask him to simply share a message in case he wasn't willing to answer.