Fourteen people were arrested Monday for stopping the movement in a series of coordinated protests to save old growth in Vancouver, Richmond and North Saanich.
Dozens attended morning demonstrations on the Second Narrow Bridge, in the Massi Tunnel and on the Patricia Bay Highway, where a protester was injured after falling from a ladder.
The man, who had landed on a ladder in the center of the highway, was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries.
2:22 Arrests made in another series of protests against logging Arrests made in another series of protests against logging
“The protest has created frustration among travelers who have tried to circumvent this illegal blockade,” BC RCMP Cpl reported. Alex Berube in a statement Monday morning.
The story continues under the ad
“These blockades are simply dangerous for protesters and others. … Although we understand the frustration of travelers, the RCMP does not approve of illegal actions taken to circumvent the blockades.
Read more: Man surrenders to police over pile of manure left in BC’s prime minister’s office
Between 12 and 15 people attended a demonstration in North Saanic around 6 a.m., which halted traffic on the Patricia Highway.
Police called a specialized obstacle removal team to dismantle some of the “physical structures” to which protesters have attached themselves. Five were arrested, including the one who fell from the ladder.
“Get out of the way!” a passenger shouted at the man on the stairs. Others cursed them.
At least one vehicle left the highway and drove over the grassy shoulder to cross the blockade.
2:02 The actions of the group to record old growth under surveillance. The actions of the group for registration of the old growth under observation – April 24, 2022.
In Vancouver, police confirmed that five people had been arrested for blocking traffic on the Second Narrows Bridge and four vehicles had been detained.
Popular stories
-
Ramsey Hunt Syndrome: Here’s what we know about Justin Bieber’s diagnosis
-
Amber Heard talks about Johnny Depp’s sentence, says trial not “fair”
The story continues under the ad
In an interview with Sgt. Steve Addison said the Vancouver Police Department had deployed additional staff before the protests and found vehicles “hidden” near the bridge for potential use in blockades.
“At one point, there was a vehicle that boarded the bridge with four passengers inside,” he told Global News. “This vehicle stopped and the passengers in the vehicle tried to lock themselves, we believe, to the steering wheel.
Police intervened and detained the passengers in the car. Five were detained in total and taken to prison, Addison said.
Read more: The man from BC ended the hunger strike against the old logging after 31 days
Mountis in Richmond arrested four people who blocked part of the Massi Tunnel shortly before 7:30 a.m. Three were sitting on Highway 99, and a fourth was perched on a platform ladder, separating the north and south lanes.
Initially, a passenger tried to get him to move by grabbing the old growth signs and throwing them off the road, and tried to move the ladder, but it failed and set off. Police also failed to persuade the man to get off the ladder and eventually picked him up and moved him away from the highway so cars could go around.
“The person on the ladder was found to be violating the terms of a previous protest in another jurisdiction,” police said in a press release.
The story continues under the ad
“The Richmond RCMP is prosecuting all those arrested.
0:34 Protesters from the old growth again blocked a large intersection in Vancouver. Protesters from the old growth again blocked a large intersection in Vancouver – April 27, 2022.
The Save Old Growth movement aims to end the registration of old growth in BC by disrupting critical infrastructure to draw the government’s attention to the problem.
The group claims that old forests in British Columbia have made an invaluable contribution to combating climate change by sequestering carbon emissions.
“Preserving our last remaining old forests is completely meaningless. “We have been systematically lied to by the British Columbia government,” said Zane Hack, coordinator of Save the Old Growth, in a press release ahead of the demonstrations.
“Through our efforts for civil resistance, we will create a political urgency for the government to represent the will of the people, instead of serving in the forestry lobby.
The story continues under the ad
Read more: Protesters against old growth cling to the door of the Vancouver Hotel
In an interview after the demonstrations, Save Old Growth coordinator Ian Weber said it was “quite difficult” to see one of their own – the protester on the North Saanich ladder – physically injured in the course of their activities.
However, all those involved accept the reality that civil disobedience carries some risks.
“Moving forward, we have learned a lot and will try to improve safety for the people involved in Save Old Growth,” Weber said.
“It is dangerous in nature, but we are approaching turning points that could lead to economic and social collapse. Indeed, the alternative is much worse. “
Weber said he was ready to put his life on the line to save the old forests, because unless the government takes action to limit the effects of climate change, everyone’s lives are in danger.
© 2022 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
Add Comment