Climate protesters to block another downtown Vancouver intersection Monday
Members of the Extinction Rebellion are planning to block another downtown Vancouver intersection on Monday, following a weekend that saw several protesters arrested at similar demonstrations.
Organizers said they will be marching from Nelson Park to the busy intersection of Granville and Georgia streets around 4:30 p.m. as part of a two-week campaign of "constant disruption" intended to draw attention to the global climate crisis.
"With extreme heat, fires, droughts, and flooding affecting communities across the country, it’s become increasingly clear that we are facing a major catastrophe," Extinction Rebellion said in a news release.
"After decades of malfeasance and inaction by all levels of government in Canada and throughout the world, we now face a climate and ecological catastrophe that threatens human civilization."
The group has said every day of the campaign will focus on a different theme, with a common call for Canada to end all subsidies of fossil fuel projects. Monday's theme is "Protect the Sacred."
Nine protesters were arrested during the first two demonstrations. Police confirmed officers took two men and two women into custody at Saturday's "die-in" protest, which saw 13 people lay on the ground and block traffic at Georgia and Burrard streets.
Authorities said one man and four women were then arrested Sunday, when the group blocked the intersection of Broadway and Commercial Drive.
On Monday, Extinction Rebellion released a statement attributed to an unnamed arrestee explaining their reasons for joining the demonstration: "I realized that the government is taking advantage of our complacency to get away with murder."
"When planning my future, I wonder where I will be able to live safely because I have to consider food shortages, deadly heat waves, and wildfires," the statement said. "I can’t even consider having kids. They’ve already robbed me of my future. I have nothing left to lose in fighting back."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
'It was joy': Trapped B.C. orca calf eats seal meat, putting rescue on hold
A rescue operation for an orca calf trapped in a remote tidal lagoon off Vancouver Island has been put on hold after it started eating seal meat thrown in the water for what is believed to be the first time.
Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
B.C. judge orders shared dog custody for exes who both 'clearly love Stella'
In a first-of-its-kind ruling, a B.C. judge has awarded a former couple joint custody of their dog.
Saskatoon police to search landfill for remains of woman missing since 2020
Saskatoon police say they will begin searching the city’s landfill for the remains of Mackenzie Lee Trottier, who has been missing for more than three years.
Shivering for health: The myths and truths of ice baths explained
In a climate of social media-endorsed wellness rituals, plunging into cold water has promised to aid muscle recovery, enhance mental health and support immune system function. But the evidence of such benefits sits on thin ice, according to researchers.