Montrealers gather to mark death of Ottawa man following violent arrest

Around 100 people gathered in downtown Montreal Thursday night to protest the death of a black man following an arrest by Ottawa police.

Abdirahman Abdi, a 37-year-old with mental health issues, died Monday, a day after police attempted to take him into custody outside his Ottawa apartment building.

Montréal Noir along with an anti-police brutality group organized the Montreal demonstration, which marched from Norman Bethune Square to a nearby police station. A minute of silence was held outside the station.

"This killing shows us there is a significant problem with violence towards black persons in this country," said Robyn Maynard, a spokesperson for Montréal Noir.

"Anti-blackness in police forces holds no borders."