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Fracking blockade chaos
October 17, 2013 - 12:14pm
http://aptn.ca/pages/news/2013/10/17/rcmp-officers-enforce-injunction-against-mikmaq-led-anti-fracking-blockade/
http://o.canada.com/news/rcmp-move-in-on-mikmaq-fracking-protesters-in-new-brunswick/
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/shale-gas-protesters-clash-with-police-in-rexton-n-b-1.2100703
http://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/rcmp-vehicles-on-fire-at-n-b-shale-gas-protest-1.1500862
[at least one more cruiser was torched at another location]
http://halifax.mediacoop.ca/
most of these articles have been updated, and will no doubt continue to be
Here is a livestream: http://veetle.com/index.php/profile/1966487346?play=a448a97a7ebb640a1048...
It's actually video from about 5 hours ago, right?
Yes, it appears so. Looking for some other live coverage. Looks like some RCMP cars are on fire, according to Twitter
APTN is doing live coverage here
CBC just reported 40 arrested.
From Facebook... "Six Nations shuts down highway #6 in Ontario in support of Elsipogtog"
There are many solidarity events being planned. Here are some:
Montreal: https://www.facebook.com/events/679333798746468/?source=1
Edmonton: https://www.facebook.com/events/559866710728588/?ref_dashboard_filter=ca...
Vancouver: https://www.facebook.com/events/681117658565367/?ref_dashboard_filter=ca...
Great resource, a fracking backgrounder, from No One Is Illegal
Support Actions for Mi’kmaq anti fracking blocakde
Nice quick synopsis of what is going on right now.
One of the 40 arrested this morning was Media Coop reporter Miles Howe.
Miles Howe of the Halifax Media Co-op may have been arrested by RCMP while covering ongoing Mi'kmaq-led blockade against fracking
Miles has been reporting for months and has many articles you can scan here.
Apparently Six Nations blocked Hwy 6 in solidarity. There will be many more such actions.
UPDATE: Mi’kmaq Resist! 6 RCMP Cars Torched, Fracking Equipment Confiscated
In retaliation against a violent police raid this morning on a peaceful First Nations blockade, Mi’kmaq warriors and supporters have fought back.
The RCMP appear to have arrested journalist Miles Howe, who has been reporting on the Elsipogtog struggle against the illegal gas grab on indigenous lands. More than 200 RCMP are participating in the raid, including snipers in fatigues. Ambulances have been prevented from treating protestors wounded by pepper spray, plastic bullets, and general brutality.
As of the time of writing this, six RCMP vehicles have been torched, and melees of stones have been hurled in response to tear gas, plastic bullets, and pepper spray from the RCMP. Mi’kmaq allies have also confiscated fracking equipment in continued efforts to maintain the blockade against the gas company.....
http://earthfirstjournal.org/newswire/2013/10/17/update-mikmaq-resist-6-...
RCMP sniper pointing at crowd of youths now at #mikmaqblockade #Elsipogtog #IdleNoMore
Strong and Proud Original Women are the leaders in any action against oppression. Sisters stand front line #stabdforwhatisright #together we stand !! See u there tomorrow !!
Listuguj bridge blockade in solidarity with Elisipogtog who are currently protecting their unceeded lands from Fracking.
Some of the artillery brought in by the cops at the once peaceful Elsipogtog blockade. Who is the instigator of violence when you see stuff like this happening??
UPDATE: RCMP Appear to Be Withdrawing as Solidarity Protests Spread
Early reports are saying that the RCMP appears to be withdrawing from the Mi’kmaq blockade, leaving hundreds of protesters victorious (for now). The armored personnel carrier has reportedly left the scene already, and more vehicles are leaving presently.
Canada is currently in an uproar about the violent surprise attack on the Mi’kmaq’s peaceful blockade this morning, which involved sniper rifles, attack dogs, tear gas, pepper spray, and plastic bullets. Solidarity protests have spread throughout “North American” cities, from Washington, DC, to Ontario, Canada. At the same time, a solidarity blockade of Highway 5 by the Six Nations in Ontario snarled traffic for hours.....
Montreal
Ottawa, and Ottawa Sit-In
Vancouver
Winnipeg
Victoria
New York
Lethbridge
Edmonton
Nanaimo
Regina
Toronto
Eagle Lake First Nation
Fort McMurray
Sault Ste. Marie
Six Nations (Ongoing)
Saskatoon
Kitchener-Waterloo
Alderville First Nation
Tell the RCMP: Don’t violently intervene in peaceful First Nations protests
http://you.leadnow.ca/petitions/tell-the-rcmp-don-t-violently-intervene-...
Police Attack New Brunswick Anti-Frack Protest
http://bsnorrell.blogspot.ca/2013/10/police-attack-new-brunswick-anti-fr...
"To defend the rights of an American company, the RCMP came in with essentially para-military units including snipers, to remove the opposition.
This is big oil pushing the First Nations into submission . That is their goal. The Conservative Government of Canada is only a tool of big business..."
Toronto Elsipogtog Solidarity - Emergency Gathering, Friday, Oct 18, 4 PM
Metro Toronto Convention Center, 222 Bremner Boulevard, south building
At Bremner and Lower Simcoe
They came prepared for war: RCMP crackdown on peaceful Mik’maq protest
quote:
The RCMP raid is widely being considered a preemptive action to prevent the October 18 day of action that was issued 5 days ago by the Mik’maq Warriors Society.
In the call to action, Suzane Patles, an Ilnu woman and member of the Mi'kmaq Warrior Society calls for physical support at the blockade, solidarity actions across Turtle Island on Oct. 18th and a flooding of Kanadian official representatives' phone and mail lines in protest of the court injunction that the RCMP enforced today.
http://intercontinentalcry.org/came-prepared-war-rcmp-crackdown-peaceful...
Weird how the RCMP swoops in, escalates a non-violent action that's been going on for weeks, then vanishes. What did it accomplish, other than bullying peaceful FN protestors and pissing off already pissed off progressives? The Throne Speech made it clear that Harper plans to trample Indigenous land and resource rights, and this police action certainly hammered it home, but what else was happening yesterday that more or less dropped off the media radar when this happened? Harper was in Brussels to sign CETA ...
http://canadians.org/media/canada-eu-trade-deal-sell-out-or-celebration-...
Just sayin' is all.
It put another nail in Alward's political coffin. I'm currently reading The Inconvenient Indian which makes these events even more poignant to me.
ETA:
A councillor with the Elsipogtog First Nation in New Brunswick says meetings are planned for today between Chief Aaron Sock and Premier David Alward following yesterday's violence during a protest over land use for shale gas exploration in Rexton.
Sock and Elsipogtog Coun. Robert Levi were among 40 people arrested Thursday as RCMP enforced an injunction to end a weeks-long demonstration against shale gas exploration involving a coalition of native and non-native protesters. Five police vehicles were among six vehicles set ablaze and destroyed during the clash.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/n-b-shale-gas-protest-spurs-premier-native-leaders-meeting-1.2125134
Breaking: Advisers to Chief Sock in Anti-Shale Gas Negotiations are Provincial Government Employees
https://www.facebook.com/IdleNoMoreCommunity/posts/10151982231418729
"John Deveau - adviser - well-positioned to profit from talks, Indigenous unrest, resource development..."
Solidarity Protests and Blockades Ignite Across Turtle Island in Solidarity with Mi’kmaq
quote:
Numerous infrastructure points throughout Canada were snarled by indigenous blockades in the immediate aftermath of the state invasion of the Mi’qmak. At least 30 solidarity protests are also being undertaken according to Idle No More.
According to Santa Cruz Indigenous Solidarity, by 3pm yesterday six peaceful highway and bridge blockades had been errected at Roads in Burnt Church (NB), Tobique (NB), Esgenoopetitj (NB), Hamilton (ON) and Six Nations (ON).
The Listuguj Mi’Gmaq built a tipi on the VanHorne bridge, blocking traffic on the Quebec-New Brunswick border.
In Winnipeg, protestors tied up traffic at the intersection of Portage and Main, burning a Canadian flag to protest against the Crown’s historic betrayal of First Nations treaty rights. Police appeared to be clearing the way for the march, halting traffic at numerous points.
In Montreal, members of the Mohawk nation gathered to show solidarity. During the RCMP crackdown on the Mi’kmaq Blockade, many observers compared the state’s repressive response to the 1990 Oka Crisis, which saw the Mohawk resist development on their lands for months.
New York, Washington, DC, and numerous other cities across the US have also seen solidarity demonstrations....
CBC: bail denied, most of the protestors will spend the weekend in jail.
Vancouver
Friday, Oct 18th
Going (1,225)..so far
A march will be started right a 4:00 pm, we are asking everyone to show up at 3:30 as we will be seeking a few more volunteers to become peace keepers/marshals to help keep everyone calm in case any issue may arise.
THIS IS BASED ON A PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATION. Bring drums and anything that will make noise, it is also suggested that you bring water because the march will take up some time as we will be taking to the streets.
........
I am told: Elispogtok is phonemically pronounced "Elsibooktook"
.........
In case of an unexpected skytrain shut down... people need to know other ways of transit to get to this. I remember when INM and meeting place was at Native Ed.. the skytrains unexpectedly shut down right around the time of the set meeting.
.........
it is important to remember to bring your recording devices so we can keep a record of the event and will also ensure of safety for all so do not forget to bring your smart phones lol
https://www.facebook.com/events/681117658565367/?ref=22
Liberal and NDP Aboriginal affairs critics respond to the situation in N.B.
short video
New Brunswick: Several shale gas protesters now charged after clash
Mischief, obstruction among charges laid after 40 arrested Thursday as police-protesters clashed
Eight of the 40 people arrested Thursday in a protest over land used for shale gas exploration in Rexton, N.B., have been charged following the violent clash between RCMP and protesters.
The charges Friday include:
Some of the protesters arrested will remain in jail over the weekend out of a concern for a protest revival, a Moncton court was told Friday....
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/several-n-b-shale-gas-protes...
I would like to know what the missing other half of this photo shows.
There is no question that the Canadian government and the RCMP can win the battle of the bullets, but the Harper Cons may well lose the battle for public opinion in the process.