More than 30 activists were arrested on Southern Vancouver Island on Saturday, including a prominent environmentalist, as RCMP continue to enforce a court order to allow logging in the area.
This week B.C. RCMP began enforcing a court injunction that orders the removal of blockades set up to protest the logging of certain parts of a 595-square-kilometre area near Port Renfrew. Surrey-based company Teal-Jones Group has tenure of the area, which is about two hours west of Victoria.
The activists, some of whom have chained themselves in place, say they're protesting the logging of B.C.'s last remaining old-growth forests.
There are currently six main camps, and all are affiliated with the Rainforest Flying Squad. Five of them have been termed "blockades," while one — the Walbran Camp — was set up to observe logging activity.
All of the main camps and blockades lie in valley bottoms on narrow dirt logging roads.
On Saturday RCMP Sgt. Chris Manseau said officers arrested six more people at the Waterfall camp for breaching the B.C. Supreme Court injunction order.
A protester carried away by police on Saturday May 22, 2021 from a road that leads into the headwaters of the Fairy Creek watershed on Vancouver Island. (Brad MacLeod)
Officers trained in high angle rescue also arrested two people who were in a platform suspended from trees hear the Hatten area.
Police say 25 people were arrested out of a group of around 100 who crossed police tape at the Caycuse blockade on Saturday, therefore violating the injunction.
Protesters breached the <a href="https://twitter.com/BCRCMP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BCRCMP</a> exclusion zone leading into the Fairy Creek watershed, at 1 pm Saturday. Crowd then sat in the logging road to protest logging of old growth forest. No arrests were made while <a href="https://twitter.com/CHEK_News?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CHEK_News</a> was on scene, officers were hugely outnumbered. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/fairycreek?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#fairycreek</a> <a href="https://t.co/2Wg9oHJfGp">pic.twitter.com/2Wg9oHJfGp</a> —@SkyeRyanCHEK
The group arrived at that camp at around noon on Saturday. Police said some of the people were sitting on the road, blocking anyone from going in and out.
"And more arrests are pending as they continue to refuse to abide by the injunction and leave the area," said the release from Manseau.
According to RCMP, 60 individuals have been arrested in relation to the blockades.
Manseau said 47 had been arrested for breaching the injunction (civil contempt of court) and 12 for obstruction.
Of the 47 individuals arrested for civil contempt of court, RCMP are also recommending that two individuals be charged with obstruction, two for possession of stolen property and one for obstruction and assaulting a police officer.
Activists in the area on Saturday said they are motivated to keep up their activities until the province intervenes or the logging companies decide to leave.
"We're willing to risk everything to protect these ancient forests because in the midst of a bio-diversity climate crisis it's morally reprehensible to be logging 2000 year old cedar forests," said activist Duncan Morrison.
Sgt. Kris Clarke said on Saturday that RCMP are, "taking a slow, measured approach with regards to enforcement."
"Our ultimate goal here is safety. We want to ensure that everybody is safe and no one is injured in relation to this injunction."
I have just been released from jail after being arrested blocking old growth logging at Fairy Creek Headwaters. Thanks to all for all the kind messages and support. Please support <a href="https://twitter.com/SaveFairyCreek?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SaveFairyCreek</a> and join them if you can. Every person and everyday matters. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/bcpoli?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#bcpoli</a> —@Tzeporah
Among those arrested on Saturday was Tzeporah Berman, director of the environmental organization Stand.earth, who was also arrested for participating in logging protests 30 years ago on Vancouver Island.
"I can't believe that almost 30 years after massive protests in Clayoquot, we have to do this again," she said in a written statement.
"But now, there is so little old growth left standing and the government has so far broken its promise to protect what's left."
Supporters for forestry workers on Vancouver Island gathered near Lake Cowichan on Saturday May 22, 2021 to show support for the industry and RCMP over their enforcement of the court order to allow logging activities in the Fairy Creek watershed. (CHEK News)
Also on Saturday, forestry workers and their families gathered along a road along Cowichan Lake to show their support for Teal-Jones and the Mounties working to enforce the court order.
TheLionFollowsMe on May 23rd, 2021 at 12:53 UTC »
As a timberland owner in the PNW, I grow my trees. I do not kill ancient primal perfection for cash. It should be illegal. Timber production is agriculture, not extraction. GROW YOUR OWN!
casualinteger on May 23rd, 2021 at 12:15 UTC »
This is like Brazil fucking up the rain forest for a few bucks.
yaypal on May 23rd, 2021 at 07:31 UTC »
I'm so fucking embarrassed and ashamed our government isn't doing anything to stop this. It's disgusting, and the vast majority of BC residents are against it, I wish the Greens still had coalition power.