No charges in “Defund Police” protest outside City Hall in July: Hamilton Police

Hamilton Police say charges will not be laid in connection with the police protest outside City Hall in July. 

A group of over 100 people protested on Main St. around 12:30 p.m. on July 23.

• Downtown demonstration calls for defunding Hamilton Police

Protesters shut down the street to traffic and painted the words: Defund the Police on the road.

The road was kept closed to clean off the paint, with the city citing public and traffic safety concerns.

Hamilton Police say clean up costs were in excess of $5,000.

Police say they identified and cautioned five people with “varying levels of involvement” in the protest. 

“As a police service, we acknowledge the need for public engagement and dialogue on issues facing our community such as systemic racism and discrimination, as well as how police respond to homelessness, harm reduction and mental illness,” Hamilton Police said in a news release.

“We recognize the right to lawful, peaceful assembly and protest. However, we remind the public that defacing public property is a criminal act and subject to charges.”