Protesters in Montreal have toppled a statue of Canada’s first prime minister, as cries of “defund the police” crossed the border and on to the streets of five Canadian cities.
Activists climbed the monument in the Place du Canada on Saturday, unbolted the statue of Sir John A Macdonald and pulled it down with ropes as a crowd cheered. Its head separated from its body on impact with the ground.
The toppling has led to fears that unrest in the United States, prompted by the police killing of George Floyd, a black man, may accelerate through Canada.
“I strongly deplore the acts of vandalism that took place,” Valérie Plante, the mayor of Montreal, said, adding that the battle for justice “must be carried out peacefully”.
