Emotions were high as hundreds marched through Ottawa streets demanding answers into the death of Abdirahman Abdi.
The group took off from Somerset Square in Hintonburg around 2p.m. shouting ‘Justice for Abdi’ throughout their march to Police Headquarters on Elgin St.
Abdi was pronounced dead in hospital on Monday following an alleged violent arrest by Ottawa Police in Hintonburg the day before.
“We want to know what’s going on,” said ChiChi Ayalogu-Okonkwo, an organizer for the march. “We want the officers to have some form of cameras on their person at all time so we know exactly how they’re dealing with situations like this.”
Saturday morning the Canadian Somali Mothers’ Association released a statement demanding the two officers at the centre of the SIU investigation be removed from street patrol.
“We want them to be taken off the force and suspended until the investigation is over,” said another organizer, Wangui Kimari.
This march falls on the same day as an annual basketball game in St. Luke’s Park that is meant to build relationships between the public and Ottawa Police.
Speaking at the Naqvi Cup, Police Chief Charles Bordeleau said it is critical to have these types of community building events. When asked about the status of the two officers, Bordeleau said they are not on the front lines.
“One officer is on leave and the other office is conducting investigative work right now. So both officers are not in the front line capacity,” he said.
With tensions high, a former mediator attending the march, said now is the time to keep an open mind until the SIU investigation is complete.
“You know the officers go through a great deal of pain as well, and their families and we should not forget that, and they’ve been pointed fingers at,” said Moe Royer.
The SIU investigation is ongoing and could take weeks or months before it is complete. The group is asking for that investigation be made public once the results are in.
