A group of tent city residents and supporters have seized an empty school in Nanaimo.

A press release from Alliance Against Displacement on Friday evening advised that homeless people and supporters from tent city have moved into the to begin what they害羞草研究所檙e calling the 害羞草研究所楽choolhouse Squat.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淲e have claimed this building as a safe spot for homeless people,害羞草研究所� said Amber McGrath, Discontent City supporter, outside the school Friday evening. 害羞草研究所淔or five months, Discontent City has been home for the homeless [to] camp. We were unhoused, but we made a home. The government and courts are trying to make us homeless again and we will not go along with it.害羞草研究所�

The civil disobedience begins the same day that the provincial government announced at two sites in Nanaimo at Terminal Avenue and Labieux Road.

McGrath said the announcement is awesome.

害羞草研究所淎nd if people at Discontent City want that housing, then it害羞草研究所檚 up to them. They should be part of that discussion if they want that kind of housing. They weren害羞草研究所檛 [consulted] if they wanted that kind of housing. They were sort of given supportive housing; 24-hour supportinve housing doesn害羞草研究所檛 leave you any tenants害羞草研究所� rights.害羞草研究所�

Nanaimo RCMP are on scene at Rutherford elementary.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e assessing the damage to the school, we害羞草研究所檙e having some dialogue with the individuals to determine what their intentions are, and we害羞草研究所檒l be in consultation with the school district because they are the holders of the land,害羞草研究所� said Const. Gary O害羞草研究所橞rien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesman.

He said the situation is different than some other break-ins due to the number of people in the school, thought to be upwards of a dozen, and O害羞草研究所橞rien said there害羞草研究所檚 an 害羞草研究所渙fficer safety component害羞草研究所� to consider.

The press release notes that the the Schoolhouse Squat offers 害羞草研究所渁 home for the hundreds of homeless people displaced by a brutal and unjust displacement order won by the City of Nanaimo from the Supreme Court of British Columbia.害羞草研究所�

The Alliance Against Displacement is asking anyone to join the squat or start up others, saying the protest will serve as an appeal to the government for help.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e basically encouraging everybody across the province and across the country, there害羞草研究所檚 empty schools everywhere,害羞草研究所� McGrath said. 害羞草研究所淭ake those schools. Homeless people shouldn害羞草研究所檛 be out in the cold.害羞草研究所�

Sophie Wendling, another Discontent City supporter, joined the press conference via speakerphone from inside Rutherford school. She said those inside intend to stay as long as they can.

害羞草研究所淲e want to open up this space so that other people can come and be where it害羞草研究所檚 warm and dry in an unused space,害羞草研究所� she said.

Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools could not be reached for comment.

Organizers of Discontent City holding a press conference at Rutherford School.

害羞草研究所� Nicholas M Pescod (@npescod)

RELATED: