Hamilton police and bylaw enforcement laid nearly two dozen charges following two weekend protests downtown.
Police say over 20 people attended a Hugs Over Masks event outside city hall on Sunday. Eight people at this event were charged.
There were nearly 1,000 people at a pro-Palestine protest at city hall later that day. Police say 12 people attending this event were charged.
RELATED STORY: Pro-Palestine rallies are being held around the world and here at home as tensions escalate in Gaza
Police say they may lay further charges in the coming days. Two of the organizers were also charged under the Reopening Ontario Act.
The number of people at each of the events exceeded the number of people permitted at an outdoor gathering under the province’s current COVID-19 restrictions.