Five climate protesters, including a 15-year-old boy, have been arrested following the five-hour occupation of a major intersection in downtown Vancouver.
On Friday the climate activist group Extinction Rebellion (XR) Vancouver announced plans to "peacefully march" from Robson Square to the Georgia Viaduct and Cambie Bridge on Saturday starting at 11 a.m. About 40 demonstrators marched to Cambie Street and West Georgia Street, placed banners in the middle of the intersection and staged a sit-in according to a recent VPD release.
“After giving the demonstrators time to express their views and stage the protest, VPD officers asked the group to disperse,” says sergeant Steve Addison, VPD. “While most agreed to leave, three men, one woman, and a 15-year-old boy refused. They were arrested for mischief because they were blocking the roadway.”
The VPD release goes on to say demonstrations “impeded drivers and emergency vehicles.” However, XR Vancouver has previously noted the group has met with emergency response teams and will allow them through occupation sites.
Extinction Rebellion's other Canadian chapters had plans to block major streets on the same day, including Toronto, Ottawa, Victoria, Calgary, and Edmonton.
The day of protest kicks off a series of Canada-wide actions that will "culminate in a period of civil disobedience across the country" starting Oct. 16.
Everyone who was arrested was driven to jail and released after they agreed to come to court at a later date.
With files from Elana Shepert
