A woman faces multiple charges after a protestor used a hammer to smash door locks during a rally against a defence industry conference at London’s convention centre.
Officers responded around 7:45 a.m. Tuesday to reports of an active protest at RBC Place London, where demonstrators were blocking the entrance, barricading the parking lot, and throwing paint on staff, police said Wednesday. Damage to the building was estimated at $32,000.
One woman, who was wearing a mask, used a hammer to break electronic locks on the front door of the York Street building, police said.
The woman fled into the crowd when officers approached her and resisted arrest when she was caught, police said.
An Owen Sound woman, 34, is charged with mischief of more than $5000, conspiracy to commit an indictable offence, resisting arrest and disguise with intent. She was released from custody and is scheduled to appear in court Dec. 4.
The demonstration drew nearly 100 demonstrators and dozens of police officers, including members of the public order unit, which monitors protests and other large gatherings.
The Best Defence Conference bills itself as “a premier Canadian aerospace, defence and public safety conference” that addresses, among other things, “public safety capability domains.”
The demonstrators, some of them wearing medical masks, held signs saying “Stop arming Israel” and banners bearing Palestinian flags.
A stretch of York Street was closed between Wellington and Waterloo for nearly two hours while the protesters and police faced off.
“We acknowledge the importance of an individual’s right to freedom of opinion, expression, and peaceful assembly,” the police said. “However, we will not tolerate property damage or violence in the name of any cause and will thoroughly investigate all reports of this nature.”
More people could face charges, police said.
“Investigators are asking for assistance in identifying the other protesters in attendance at the event yesterday morning,” Const. Matt Dawson said.
Anyone with information is asked to call London police at 519-661-5670 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
