Swartz Bay blockade in support of Wet'suwet'en halts BC Ferries sailings
Credit to Author: Postmedia News| Date: Mon, 20 Jan 2020 16:17:52 +0000
A blockade by land and water in support of the Wet’suwet’en against the Coastal GasLink has reportedly blocked Highway 17 traffic from accessing BC Ferries’ Swartz Bay terminal on Vancouver Island.
The 7 a.m. sailing out of Swartz Bay and the 7 a.m. sailing out of Tsawwassen have both been impacted at this time, along with Southern Gulf Island sailings out of Otter Bay and Village Bay, due to kayakers working alongside the road blockade.
#BCFHeadsUp #SwartzBay #Tsawwassen Please know that both the 7:00am leaving Swartz Bay and the 7:00am leaving Tsawwassen will be holding in dock while the scope of the protest is determined. More info will be posted soon. ^js
The demonstration is in response to a call from Wet’suwet’en hereditary leaders for support pushing back against the Coastal GasLink project in northern B.C.
The Coastal GasLink project is approved and permitted and has support of elected leaders of First Nations located along the pipeline route. A court injunction is also in place to prevent further efforts to block construction.
BC Ferries is the target of Monday’s blockade due to its ties to the liquified natural gas industry, say anti-pipeline protesters in a statement.
BREAKING – Group blockades Highway 17, prevents BC Ferries sailings by kayaks to demand respect for Wet’suwet'en sovereignty and oppose the threat of RCMP invasion #wetsuweten #bcpoli pic.twitter.com/wKmT5gqizf
“We emphasize that provincial infrastructure cannot be built or maintained through the colonization and destruction of the territories and waters that the Wet’suwet’en have governed since time immemorial,” the statement reads.
In a brief online post, BC Ferries said it was working on a contingency plan to keep traffic moving and onto the ferry, and for customers to check frequently for updates to its service notices.
Photos shared online of the blockade appear to show a large “RESPECT WET’SUWET’EN” banner hung up across an overpass, while others standing below hoist other signs that read “RESPECT INDIGENOUS LAW.”
Police have arrived on scene to direct traffic.
More to come.
SWARTZ BAY, B.C.: JAN. 20, 2020 – Demonstrators have set up a blockade of Highway 17, which leads to BC Ferries Swartz Bay terminal, in support of Wet’suwet’en hereditary leaders against the Coastal GasLink pipeline on Jan. 20, 2020.
SWARTZ BAY, B.C.: JAN. 20, 2020 – Demonstrators have set up a blockade of Highway 17, which leads to BC Ferries Swartz Bay terminal, in support of Wet’suwet’en hereditary leaders against the Coastal GasLink pipeline on Jan. 20, 2020.
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