Hundreds rally at Vancouver City Hall, block traffic in support of Wet’suwet’en
Posted February 9, 2020 4:32 pm.
Last Updated February 9, 2020 4:33 pm.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — A weekend of peaceful, but disruptive demonstrations against a pipeline in northwest B.C. continued Sunday with a rally at Vancouver City Hall and a march that snarled traffic at major intersection.
Protesters gathered Sunday afternoon to show their support of the heredity chiefs of Wet’suwet’en First Nation who oppose the construction of the Coastal GasLink pipeline and their opposition to the actions of the RCMP.
Speeches, chants and songs began at 1 p.m. and the crowd grew steadily through the afternoon. One speaker read out Premier John Horgan’s phone number and urged everyone in attendance to call him.
“Here’s @jjhorgan’a phone number, everyone call him right now”. @CityNewsVAN @NEWS1130 @BT_Vancouver pic.twitter.com/1p3K2AmTi4
— Ashley Grace Burr (@AshleyBurr_) February 9, 2020
“We are proud to continue to stand with the Wet’suwet’en and we are disgusted with the hollow statements from government hoping for ‘peaceful reconciliation’ when they have the power and authority to stop the RCMP,” says Grand Chief Stewart Philip, President of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs in a release.
RCMP began enforcing an injunction Thursday in order to allow construction of the 670-kilometre pipeline project to proceed, and have since arrested 21 people opposing the pipeline in northwest B.C.
Withdraw RCMP from Wet’suwet’en territories and stop the pipeline, those demands coming from protestors as rallies continue to spread across the Lower Mainland, blocking essential ports of entry.
@CityNewsVAN @NEWS1130 @BT_Vancouver pic.twitter.com/UeNcQusuDX— Ashley Grace Burr (@AshleyBurr_) February 9, 2020
Protest has moved from City Hall to the intersection of Broadway & Cambie. No traffic getting through. @NEWS1130 @NEWS1130Traffic pic.twitter.com/YO0E84YNMU
— Lisa Steacy (@lisa_steacy) February 9, 2020
In addition to Sunday’s action at City Hall, other groups of protesters continue their presence at Vancouver ports.
In Victoria, Indigenous youth and supporters continue to camp overnight on the front steps of the B.C. legislature.
Protesters blocked Victoria’s downtown Johnson Street bridge Saturday and blocked railway lines in Ontario.
“The Horgan and Trudeau governments cannot continue pretending to ignore the sheer number of ongoing and escalating solidarity actions across Turtle Island that are progressively paralyzing the critical infrastructure of this country. We are especially humbled and inspired that the majority of these critical actions are being fully led and carried out by Indigenous youth,” Stewart said.
