Dozens of demonstrators gathered at Bonaventure metro station Tuesday night to condemn the death of Farshad Mohammadi.
Mohammadi, 34, was fatally shot by police in the Bonaventure metro station Friday afternoon after he pulled a knife on an officer.
A group of artists performed music and poetry in the metro station, gathering not only to commemorate Mohammadi, but also to speak out against police brutality.
Violinist Norman Nowrocki dedicated a song to Mohammadi he wrote almost 20 years ago about homeless people who use the metro as shelter during the winter.
"Nothing has changed. If anything, the problem is worse," he said. "Where are our priorities? That's what's shameful for the City of Montreal. This is a black mark."
Organizer Stefan Cristoff said there should have been more prevention to keep Mohammadi from living on the street in the first place.
"Farshad Mohammadi was killed when he was inside the metro trying to find warmth on a winter day. The response of our society when homeless people are trying to survive on the streets is not to kill them," he said.
"Homelessness needs to be a top priority in Montreal right now. It's winter out and Farshad Mohammadi's case illustrates the urgency of the situation."
Mohammadi had lived in a halfway house in St. Henri for part of 2011, but was evicted in late December for aggressive behaviour.
Better resources are necessary to alter the way they the homeless and mental ill are assisted, said CHUM Chief of Psychiatry Dr. Paul Lesperance.
"(There is a) need to have psychiatrists that go out there in the field and maybe, for instance, in clinics that are close to the shelters, where the patients are," he said.
The Surete du Quebec is investigating the shooting. Quebec MNA Amir Khadir said the process isn't transparent.
"Will we have the appropriate answers when police are inquiring on police? I think there is something lacking in our system," he said. "And too many of these events have occurred in the last years without seeing an end to it that we have to question."
