Montrealers demonstrate at the RCMP building in solidarity with the Wet’suwet
Hundreds of people gathered for a loud protest at the RCMP’s Quebec headquarters in Montreal on Saturday afternoon.
They demonstrated in solidarity with Wet’suwet’en people opposed to a natural gas pipeline project that would run through First Nations territory in northern British Columbia.
“How would you feel if you each went home today and the RCMP says, ‘No, you can not go in here,'” said Montreal-based Wet’suwet elder Marlene Hale, who played the drum to set in motion the protest.
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Just over a week ago, the RCMP arrested 15 people, including two journalists.
The RCMP enforced a ban from the BC Supreme Court that prevents opponents from accessing Coastal GasLink’s activities, permitted under Canadian law.
“Shame on you! Go away!” shouted the crowd in chorus.
Archie Fineberg said, almost 80 years old, that it was the first protest he had ever participated in.
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“It is time for the indigenous people of Canada to stop being abused, and it is time for the Canadian people, beginning with the government, to respect the commitments they have made,” he said.
Environmentalists and other groups also joined the demonstration, which was closely followed by a large contingent of Montreal police in riots. They prevented the protesters from getting close to the doors of the RCMP building.
“I came down from Kanesatake,” Alan Harrington said. “To show solidarity with the Wet’suwet nation against the intrusion and terrorism that the RCMP is doing against our indigenous peoples.”
After some lively speeches, the convention was held for a march through the center of Montreal.
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