A large group of supporters of the African Canadian Legal Clinic (ACLC) held a rally  in Toronto  on Saturday to protest the defunding of the Clinic by Legal Aid Ontario.

The rally started at the front of the 52 Division Police station and made its way east to the  office of Legal Aid Ontario. From there, supporters marched  to the  intersection of Yonge and Dundas streets, stopping traffic and handing out petition postcards. After 20 minutes, the protestors marched to the  Bay Street  offices of Ontario’s Attorney General, Yasir Naqvi.

Protestors carried hand-painted placards that read “LAO’s $28 million deficit

smells like hypocrisy” and “Save the ACLC,” among others

Margaret Parsons Executive Director of the ACLC , noted that the work of the  clinic ”  impacts tens of thousands of people’s lives every day. We are on the front lines of the anti Black racism fight. From classrooms to the courtrooms, we are there on behalf of Black people.”

As part of its campaign to protest the defunding of the Clinic, supporters of the ACLC have launched a  website and online ads. The ads can be viewed at BlackLawyersMatter.ca

The ACLC has provided legal services to Ontario’s Black community for the past 23 years.