Goons Attack Bear Mountain Pacifist Protest

by Zoe Blunt

Over two hundred men, most apparently construction contractors, attacked a small rally in Langford this morning in an ugly show of aggression and violence.

 

Shortly after 7 am, the mob that included Bear Mountain project manager Les Bjola stormed a smaller rally against the interchange.  The mob shoved and kicked several people, tore up all the group's banners and signs, and threw hot coffee and debris at the demonstrators while shouting obscenities and abuse for almost an hour.

 

A handful of RCMP officers arrived on the scene after thirty minutes and intervened between the two groups. The protestors refused to beprovoked by fist-waving and taunts, and responded by singing "We Shall Not Be Moved," "We Shall Overcome" and "My Roots Go Down."

 

At around 8 am, the men left the area and returned to their job sites at Bear Mountain Resort and elsewhere, witnesses said. Police made no arrests and apparently did not issue warnings or take names of people who committed assaults in their presence.

• "From what we've heard, this was an organized attack that was planned days in advance," said activist Zoe Blunt. "Two sources have confirmed that these men were offered overtime to show up here and intimidate people and try to shut down our rally."

People who were assaulted are considering legal action against the individuals responsible and the specific companies that sent them to the site, Blunt said.

Word came today that some of Bear Mountain's equipment was vandalized last night, and that the managers apparently blamed those campaigning against the interchange.

• "Today in broad daylight, we were standing here by the highway and we were attacked by two hundred men and two women who destroyed our property and assaulted people. And they want you to believe that we are vandals. It's ridiculous," said activist Zoe Blunt. "I don't believe any of our people would damage equipment. Each of these people signed a pledge to respect private property and other people and that is what they did. There was no violence here today because we were able to defuse and deflect the aggression that was directed at us."

• "Who are the vandals here? Isn't it possible Bear Mountain's equipment was sabotaged by their own contractors?" Blunt asked. "Maybe some of them are as disgusted with the project as we are."

Two anonymous sources tipped off the environmentalists about the planned disruption of today's rally.

 

The Spaet Mountain Action Coalition, an ad hoc group working to preserve rare ecosystems and First Nations caves in Langford, asks that people connected with Bear Mountain use our Bear Mountain Tip Line  to prevent future bad behaviour.

 

Visit the blog at http://treesit.blogspot.com and share an anonymous, confidential comment, or email us at
treesit@gmail.com.

 

 

Raw video of today's rally: http://www.canada.com/ch/cheknews/video/index.html (6 minutes. Warning: foul and abusive language.)
 
ZoeBlunt@gmail.com

 

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