Vancouver Solidarity March with Toronto 900 and with the Black Block.
-July 4 2010
250 people marched in solidarity with the Toronto anti-G20 900. Most arrestees were released without charges while many remain in jail. The total number is unknown in Vancouver today.
The rally started at the Clark and Broadway skate park and marched to the Vancouver police station in the Downtown Eastside. Over 12 km, the march stopped at different points of conflict in Vancouver.
The first stop was at Clark and 12th intersection to commemorate the Solidarity with Tyendenaga Demo that Indigenous people in Vancouver initiated April 28th, 2008. At that time, the intersection was blocked for three hours stopping transport trucks coming and going from the Port of Vancouver a few blocks away. Commercial transport routes were congested all the way to the border. Today, a 2010 Olympics souvenir flag and large Canadian flag were burned. Sunday, being a low traffic day for the Port, the march decided to go to the police station –which is always busy 7 days a week.
The march briefly stopped above a police operations depot under construction below the 1st Street Viaduct, then turned onto the viaduct blocking one of Vancouver’s main traffic arteries between the Eastside and downtown. Turing onto Main St. the march entered the Downtown Eastside and was joined by many neighbourhood residents. The Downtown Eastside is Vancouver’s poorest neighbourhood and is under intensive redevelopment and gentrification.
The march stopped in front of the Main St. police station and court houses. Usually the road outside is a parking lot for police cars, but they were all gone today.
A diverse range of people participated in the march --pro-democracy, anarchists, indigenous people, unionists, students, poor people, people with disabilities, families…
The march was in solidarity with all arrestees, all prisoners, and everyone who experienced abuse and intimidation at the hands of the police during Toronto anti G20 days of action/protests. Also importantly, the march was in very strong support of the Black Block and other militants during the Get Off the Fence day of action.
This march was an example of and an exercise in direct action strategies that community based resistance movements can take.
some pictures found on Stephen Hui's flickr:
Burning Canadian Flag
http://www.flickr.com/photos/shui/4762275381
March @ Terminal "Solidarity Against Repression" "Free the Toronto 900"
http://www.flickr.com/photos/shui/4762938532
March w/ "Freedom to assemble" banner
http://www.flickr.com/photos/shui/4762920448
"Solidarity is Our Weapon" banner
http://www.flickr.com/photos/shui/4762922522
East Van Cross "Only in Fascist States are Protests Illegal"
http://www.flickr.com/photos/shui/4762924436
.
