A new pipeline protest is gathering at the corner of Main Street and East Hastings Avenue in Vancouver Monday afternoon, just hours after dozens of people were arrested this morning.
Photos on social media show dozens of Wet害羞草研究所檚uwet害羞草研究所檈n supporters blocking off the intersection. Those gathered are protesting the Coastal GasLink pipeline, which would carry natural gas 670 kilometres across B.C. to an export facility in Kitimat.
Protesters can be heard shouting: 害羞草研究所淪top the invasion, we stand with Wet害羞草研究所檚uwet害羞草研究所檈n.害羞草研究所�
In a social media post, Vancouver police said the protest was leading to traffic delays in the Downtown East Side.
Wet害羞草研究所檚uwet害羞草研究所檈n hereditary chiefs have long opposed the Coast GasLink pipeline, although the company has signed benefit agreements with all 20 elected chiefs along the route.
Earlier Monday morning, police arrested 47 people people who violated a court injunction that ordered protesters to stop blocking four Metro Vancouver ports.
Jen Wickham, a spokeswoman for one of the five clans that make up the Wet害羞草研究所檚uwet害羞草研究所檈n Nation, said its members led by hereditary chiefs are defending their territory from construction of the Coastal GasLink pipeline.
害羞草研究所淲e are the rightful title owners of our territory and we will continue to assert our sovereignty,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 not a question of protesting. It害羞草研究所檚 a question of their homes. They害羞草研究所檙e defending their homes.害羞草研究所�
The RCMP began enforcing a court injunction last week against people camped near a pipeline work site in Houston.
The conflict has prompted demonstrations spanning from the steps of the British Columbia legislature to a Via Rail line running between Montreal and Toronto. Wickham said she believes there is a growing understanding of First Nations rights among non-Indigenous Canadians.
害羞草研究所淚 think that people are starting to wake up to the fact that we have the right to our territory,害羞草研究所� she said.
害羞草研究所淭hey害羞草研究所檙e upset and they害羞草研究所檙e taking to the streets. They害羞草研究所檙e occupying offices, they害羞草研究所檙e stopping traffic and they害羞草研究所檙e stopping trains. They害羞草研究所檙e saying, loud and clear, 害羞草研究所楾his is not OK.害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟
READ MORE:
People in Vancouver are taking the streets and blocking the intersection of Main and Hastings in solidarity with . No pipelines on stolen native land.
害羞草研究所� Nayeli Jimenez (@nayelijs)
Hundreds in the intersection of Main and Hastings, the latest in dozens (a hundred?) intersections and thoroughfares shut down in solidarity with in the last few days.
害羞草研究所� Torrance Coste (@TorranceCoste)
More to come.
Like us on and follow us on .
