RCMP moved in at a Nanaimo school and made arrests today, breaking up the Schoolhouse Squat.
Numerous RCMP officers including special tactical teams arrived just after 10 a.m. Saturday at Rutherford Elementary School where Alliance Against Displacement and residents and supporters of Discontent City homeless camp had been squatting since Friday.
School board chairman Steve Rae thanked RCMP for their quick action.
香蕉视频直播淲e understand and acknowledge and respect that there香蕉视频直播檚 a homeless problem in this province and we want to help where we can with homeless people. But this is something that is completely different,香蕉视频直播� Rae said. 香蕉视频直播淭his is a group of people who have broken onto our property that香蕉视频直播檚 not been supportive of the real cause, which is homelessness.香蕉视频直播�
Though the school closed last June, the school board chairman said 香蕉视频直播渋t香蕉视频直播檚 not for them (squatters) to break into a school building that is owned by the school district, to use for their causes. We will not stand for this.香蕉视频直播�
Rae said he hopes there will be consequences.
香蕉视频直播淲e are going to have them removed from this property as we香蕉视频直播檙e doing right now and we香蕉视频直播檙e going to charge them with everything we can so this stops,香蕉视频直播� he said.
Nanaimo RCMP spokesman Const. Gary O香蕉视频直播橞rien said 26 people were arrested and taken into custody.
香蕉视频直播淏reak-and-enter and mischief at this point,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淭here may be secondary charges based on whatever background they have.香蕉视频直播�
He said any resistance to the arrests was not enough to be concerning to police and wouldn香蕉视频直播檛 result in additional charges.
香蕉视频直播淚t went very well. It was quite smooth,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e quite impressed with the fact that within 24 hours of the initial complaint, we had 26 in custody and the situation dealt with.香蕉视频直播�
O香蕉视频直播橞rien said there were about 40-50 members at the scene Saturday. In addition to general duty officers, there were members of the Vancouver Island Tactical Response Team, Vancouver Island Emergency Response Team, Police Dog Services and forensic ident.
He said the school district was assessing damage to the school.
Amber McGrath, Discontent City supporter, was observing the arrests Saturday and said 香蕉视频直播渋t香蕉视频直播檚 heartbreaking香蕉视频直播� to see.
香蕉视频直播淭he people in that building are fighting for everybody in Nanaimo and across the province and the country to have affordable housing and I don香蕉视频直播檛 think that香蕉视频直播檚 an unfair thing to fight for,香蕉视频直播� she said.
She referenced the 170 units of supportive housing announced by B.C. Housing on Friday and suggested that香蕉视频直播檚 not a satisfactory solution when it香蕉视频直播檚 affordable housing that香蕉视频直播檚 needed.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 temporary shelters. It香蕉视频直播檚 not a home. An 8-by-10 cell in a trailer without a kitchen isn香蕉视频直播檛 a home; 24-hour wraparound services is a prison,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淭hen they say that, that means that you have to take those services whether you want them or not. It香蕉视频直播檚 not attached to the individual, it香蕉视频直播檚 attached to the housing.香蕉视频直播�
She was asked whether Discontent City would be trying to identify another building suitable for squatting and said she didn香蕉视频直播檛 know what next steps might be.
香蕉视频直播淭here香蕉视频直播檚 empty buildings when people are freezing. People are being put out into the bush to die when we have empty government buildings sitting here that people could be in and be warm,香蕉视频直播� McGrath said.
There were arguments between Schoolhouse Squat opponents and supporters along Hammond Bay Road.
Squatters being arrested on top of Rutherford Elementary School香蕉视频直播�
香蕉视频直播� Nanaimo Bulletin (@NanaimoBulletin)
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