Protesters block entrances to Port of Vancouver for third day
Posted February 8, 2020 10:25 am.
Last Updated February 8, 2020 8:12 pm.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — For a third day, protesters are blocking the entrances to the Port of Vancouver in an action they say is in solidarity with the Wet’suwet’en opposition to a pipeline running through the nation’s traditional territory.
The intersections of Hastings Street and Clark Drive, Powell Street and Heatley Avenue, as well as the Commissioner Street entrance to the port have been blocked since early Saturday morning.
Mounties have been enforcing a court-ordered injunction in Wet’suwet’en traditional territory since Thursday morning, to allow work on a Coastal GasLink natural gas pipeline. Mounties have so far arrested 21 protesters in Northern B.C.
Good morning from the Port of Vancouver. It's time to #ShutDownCanada in solidarity with #Wetswueten. #WetsuwetenStrong
Join us! We even have breakfast and coffee. pic.twitter.com/PbrRgIofiN
— Atiya Jaffar (@atiyeahthoughts) February 8, 2020
The Port of Vancouver is a major economic hub, and the largest port in the country.
“The port handles $1 of every $3 of Canada’s trade in goods outside of North America. Enabling the trade of approximately $200 billion in goods, port activities sustain 115,300 jobs, $7 billion in wages, and $11.9 billion in GDP across Canada,” according to the port’s website.
Craig works at the port. He is part of a union and doesn’t want his last name to be used.
He says the lives of people employed at the port are being disrupted.
“It’s affecting a mass amount of people. People can’t get home, people have kids so they have to make alternative arrangements, people are late, some people just couldn’t even get in. It’s just causing havoc,” he told NEWS 1130 Saturday morning.
He says the action is having an impact, but disagrees with it as a tactic and says port workers are growing increasingly frustrated.
“I’m all for freedom of speech, I’m all for listening to people’s opinions and their side of the story but we all have to talk and get through this. This is an excessive measure.”
If you're in the #Vancouver area, get yourself & as many people as you can to Clark & Hastings. People are holding all 3 entrances to Port of Vancouver for 3rd day in a row & need support. Bring tents if you have them. Stay until RCMP leave #Wetsuweten Territory! pic.twitter.com/OMOo6mfkVE
— Kim Goldberg (@KimPigSquash) February 9, 2020
A similar protest blocking access to DeltaPort began Saturday evening.
BREAKING: Deltaport is blockaded in solidarity with #Wetsuweten! pic.twitter.com/xxhEOvVSfs
— Red Braid Alliance for Decolonial Socialism (@stopdisplacemnt) February 9, 2020
Cities across the country have seen similar protests since the RCMP began enforcing the injunction.
Hundreds gathered outside the B.C. legislature in Victoria Saturday, huddling around a ceremonial fire at the government building’s front steps.
Starting on Thursday night, protesters blocked rail lines in Ontario, shutting down the busy corridor between Montreal, Ottawa, and Toronto.
The hastag #ShutDownCanada is trending Saturday evening.
Direct actions across the country: Victoria, Vancouver, Regina, Toronto… #ShutDownCanada trends… Govt must avoid force and negotiate with #Wetsuweten hereditary chiefs, whose authority on unceded lands was recognized by Supreme Court of Canada (image source links below) pic.twitter.com/OECPZ1hpvn
— Michael J Carpenter (@MJCarpenterPhD) February 9, 2020
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