Supporters of an Indigenous anti-pipeline protest gathered in front of the BC Legislature building at noon on Tuesday and marched through some of downtown’s streets.
The protest was in support of the Wet’suwet’en First Nations people who oppose TransCanada’s Coastal GasLink pipeline, which crosses through their territory to connect to LNG Canada’s $40-billion export terminal in Kitimat.
While Coastal GasLink has signed agreements with First Nations communities along the pipeline’s route, protestors argue that Wet’suwet’en house chiefs — who are hereditary not elected — have not given consent.
In Houston, BC, the RCMP were given an injunction to remove a non-violent blockade that several Wet’suwet’en First Nations people had established in front of a planned TransCanada construction area.
Police report that 14 people were arrested in Houston for failing to comply with the injunction.
The protest began by blocking access to Bellville Street in front of the Legislature building before moving further into downtown.
VicPD live-tweeted the protest’s march, warning of traffic delays.
The protest is currently on Douglas Street heading north from Belleville Street. There will be traffic delays in the area. #yyjtraffic
— Victoria Police (@vicpdcanada) January 8, 2019
The protest then moved north along Douglas Street, before moving to Humboldt Street and then later Broughton Street and Douglas, where it occupied all four lanes.
The march then continued on to Fort Street where it turned east on to Quadra Street. Protestors then ventured past Vancouver Street before eventually stopping in the 1000-block of Fort Street.
The protest is now stationary in the 1000- Block of Fort Street. #yyjtraffic
— Victoria Police (@vicpdcanada) January 8, 2019
Photos from today’s protest:
