Commuters on their way home from work Monday evening may want to prepare for a delay as an environmental protest is scheduled to take place on the Johnson St. Bridge.
The protest, called “Bridge Sit-in & Vigil 4 a Liveable Climate Future!”, is calling for greater action from the Canadian and BC government to meet UN climate targets.
The protest is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. in Centennial Square before moving to the Johnson St. Bridge.
Once on the bridge, protestors plan to form a circle and block traffic for 12 minutes, one for each year they say we have to address irreversible climate change.
“Our moment of silence is a silent condemnation of our governments’ aggressive expansion of tarsands and fracked gas infrastructure at a time when climate scientists around the world warn that runaway climate change, rapid species extinction and mass human displacement are inevitable unless we reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% over the next 12 years,” said Keith Cherry, organizer for ‘Rise and Resist!’ in a press release.
Meanwhile, Victoria Police are warning drivers that delays are expected this evening.
“…Officers and staff are all working with the group planning the protest to help minimize the impact to those making their way home during the evening commute that day,” said VicPD in a traffic notice.
“The right to safe, peaceful and lawful protest is protected by law. However, officers have reminded participants that blocking a highway as part of a protest is unlawful.”
The event is being hosted by Rise and Resist! and Extinction Rebellion-Vancouver Island.
The groups chose today to hold their protest as members of the UN gather in Poland for COP24, an annual two-week climate change conference that discusses collective climate action.
