A group of tent city residents and supporters have seized an empty school in Nanaimo.

A press release from Alliance Against Displacement on Friday evening advised that homeless people and supporters from tent city have moved into the to begin what they香蕉视频直播檙e calling the 香蕉视频直播楽choolhouse Squat.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淲e have claimed this building as a safe spot for homeless people,香蕉视频直播� said Amber McGrath, Discontent City supporter, outside the school Friday evening. 香蕉视频直播淔or five months, Discontent City has been home for the homeless [to] camp. We were unhoused, but we made a home. The government and courts are trying to make us homeless again and we will not go along with it.香蕉视频直播�

The civil disobedience begins the same day that the provincial government announced at two sites in Nanaimo at Terminal Avenue and Labieux Road.

McGrath said the announcement is awesome.

香蕉视频直播淎nd if people at Discontent City want that housing, then it香蕉视频直播檚 up to them. They should be part of that discussion if they want that kind of housing. They weren香蕉视频直播檛 [consulted] if they wanted that kind of housing. They were sort of given supportive housing; 24-hour supportinve housing doesn香蕉视频直播檛 leave you any tenants香蕉视频直播� rights.香蕉视频直播�

Nanaimo RCMP are on scene at Rutherford elementary.

香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e assessing the damage to the school, we香蕉视频直播檙e having some dialogue with the individuals to determine what their intentions are, and we香蕉视频直播檒l be in consultation with the school district because they are the holders of the land,香蕉视频直播� said Const. Gary O香蕉视频直播橞rien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesman.

He said the situation is different than some other break-ins due to the number of people in the school, thought to be upwards of a dozen, and O香蕉视频直播橞rien said there香蕉视频直播檚 an 香蕉视频直播渙fficer safety component香蕉视频直播� to consider.

The press release notes that the the Schoolhouse Squat offers 香蕉视频直播渁 home for the hundreds of homeless people displaced by a brutal and unjust displacement order won by the City of Nanaimo from the Supreme Court of British Columbia.香蕉视频直播�

The Alliance Against Displacement is asking anyone to join the squat or start up others, saying the protest will serve as an appeal to the government for help.

香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e basically encouraging everybody across the province and across the country, there香蕉视频直播檚 empty schools everywhere,香蕉视频直播� McGrath said. 香蕉视频直播淭ake those schools. Homeless people shouldn香蕉视频直播檛 be out in the cold.香蕉视频直播�

Sophie Wendling, another Discontent City supporter, joined the press conference via speakerphone from inside Rutherford school. She said those inside intend to stay as long as they can.

香蕉视频直播淲e want to open up this space so that other people can come and be where it香蕉视频直播檚 warm and dry in an unused space,香蕉视频直播� she said.

Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools could not be reached for comment.

Organizers of Discontent City holding a press conference at Rutherford School.

香蕉视频直播� Nicholas M Pescod (@npescod)

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