Manifestations took place on Saturday in Toronto and Vancouver in connection with the death of Robert Dziekański, a Polish immigrant who died after being stunned with a Taser by the Police at Vancouver International Airport on October 14.  

Hundreds gathered in Toronto’s Queen’s Park. Wojtek Smiegowski, who organized the manifestation, told the Toronto Sun that the aim was to show solidarity with and demand justice for the victim of the tragic incident.

In Vancouver, the protest rally was organized by the Candian Polish Congress. According to Canadian media, over 1000 people took part. Some speakers called for suspending the use of Tasers by the Police until investigations into Dziekański’s death are finished.

Paul Pritchard, the passenger who shot a video of the whole incident, attended the rally and was warmly welcomed by the crowd, who chanted “Thank you, Paul”. Thanks to his recording, the world could see that the airport police might have unnecessarily zapped the immigrant, as he was not putting up a resistace.