Traffic has been interrupted in downtown Victoria at the Johnson Street bridge due to an ongoing protest.
Crowds have blocked traffic going either way in protest of police violence at old-growth logging protests in Fairy Creek near Port Renfrew.
According to VicPD, at approximately 3:30 p.m. this afternoon protestors occupied the Johnson Street Bridge and impeded traffic in both directions.
According to the Fairy Creek Instagram page, the protest initially started at Centennial Square at 3 p.m. but quickly moved down Johnson Street.
Organizers said the goal of the protest is to stand with BIPOC kin against RCMP violence and colonial extraction of the land.
Between 50 to 100 protestors have now taken to the Johnson Street Bridge from Centennial Square with an ‘Abolish the Police’ protest sign hung across the bridge.
An Instagram post is calling more protestors to block the downtown Victoria bridge.
Protesters have been seen painting red hands on the bridge to signify the over 800 arrests at Fairy Creek.
There’s no word on when traffic will reopen. VicPD said they are currently on scene to ensure safety. In a second update, VicPD said protestors have advised officers that police, fire and transit vehicles will be blocked from crossing the Johnson Street bridge which could cause potential delays for these services.
Due to a protest on the Johnson Street Bridge, we have closed the bridge to #yyjtraffic. Please use an alternate route. #yyj
— Victoria Police (@vicpdcanada) August 31, 2021
The protest comes in light of RCMP deploying pepper-spray against a crowd blocking a logging roadway at the site of old-growth logging protests in Fairy Creek.
RCMP have been previously criticized for their use of excessive force in Fairy Creek, as well as been taken to court for establishing illegal exclusion zones for media.
RCMP have denied allegations of physical misconduct.
As of this publication, traffic is still blocked.
More to come.
