RCMP moved in at a Nanaimo school and made arrests today, breaking up the Schoolhouse Squat.
Numerous RCMP officers including special tactical teams arrived just after 10 a.m. Saturday at Rutherford Elementary School where Alliance Against Displacement and residents and supporters of Discontent City homeless camp had been squatting since Friday.
School board chairman Steve Rae thanked RCMP for their quick action.
害羞草研究所淲e understand and acknowledge and respect that there害羞草研究所檚 a homeless problem in this province and we want to help where we can with homeless people. But this is something that is completely different,害羞草研究所� Rae said. 害羞草研究所淭his is a group of people who have broken onto our property that害羞草研究所檚 not been supportive of the real cause, which is homelessness.害羞草研究所�
Though the school closed last June, the school board chairman said 害羞草研究所渋t害羞草研究所檚 not for them (squatters) to break into a school building that is owned by the school district, to use for their causes. We will not stand for this.害羞草研究所�
Rae said he hopes there will be consequences.
害羞草研究所淲e are going to have them removed from this property as we害羞草研究所檙e doing right now and we害羞草研究所檙e going to charge them with everything we can so this stops,害羞草研究所� he said.
Nanaimo RCMP spokesman Const. Gary O害羞草研究所橞rien said 26 people were arrested and taken into custody.
害羞草研究所淏reak-and-enter and mischief at this point,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淭here may be secondary charges based on whatever background they have.害羞草研究所�
He said any resistance to the arrests was not enough to be concerning to police and wouldn害羞草研究所檛 result in additional charges.
害羞草研究所淚t went very well. It was quite smooth,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e quite impressed with the fact that within 24 hours of the initial complaint, we had 26 in custody and the situation dealt with.害羞草研究所�
O害羞草研究所橞rien said there were about 40-50 members at the scene Saturday. In addition to general duty officers, there were members of the Vancouver Island Tactical Response Team, Vancouver Island Emergency Response Team, Police Dog Services and forensic ident.
He said the school district was assessing damage to the school.
Amber McGrath, Discontent City supporter, was observing the arrests Saturday and said 害羞草研究所渋t害羞草研究所檚 heartbreaking害羞草研究所� to see.
害羞草研究所淭he people in that building are fighting for everybody in Nanaimo and across the province and the country to have affordable housing and I don害羞草研究所檛 think that害羞草研究所檚 an unfair thing to fight for,害羞草研究所� she said.
She referenced the 170 units of supportive housing announced by B.C. Housing on Friday and suggested that害羞草研究所檚 not a satisfactory solution when it害羞草研究所檚 affordable housing that害羞草研究所檚 needed.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 temporary shelters. It害羞草研究所檚 not a home. An 8-by-10 cell in a trailer without a kitchen isn害羞草研究所檛 a home; 24-hour wraparound services is a prison,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淭hen they say that, that means that you have to take those services whether you want them or not. It害羞草研究所檚 not attached to the individual, it害羞草研究所檚 attached to the housing.害羞草研究所�
She was asked whether Discontent City would be trying to identify another building suitable for squatting and said she didn害羞草研究所檛 know what next steps might be.
害羞草研究所淭here害羞草研究所檚 empty buildings when people are freezing. People are being put out into the bush to die when we have empty government buildings sitting here that people could be in and be warm,害羞草研究所� McGrath said.
There were arguments between Schoolhouse Squat opponents and supporters along Hammond Bay Road.
Squatters being arrested on top of Rutherford Elementary School害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所� Nanaimo Bulletin (@NanaimoBulletin)
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