Protest: Trudeau thinks he can fundraise in Vancouver?
https://www.facebook.com/events/904843336361676/
Years from now, people are going to look back at March 2018 as a moment when history was made.
For anyone with a social media account or with eyes on any national media outlet, in the last few weeks, you’ve seen a wave of enormous, inspiring, and historic resistance to the Kinder Morgan TransMountain pipeline. For all that you have done to support this fight either on Burnaby Mountain, on the streets, at your MP office, or in spirit, I thank you.
I know that certainly Prime Minister Trudeau must have been paying attention -- which is why I was very confused when he scheduled a fundraiser in downtown Vancouver for next Thursday. It’s absurd for Trudeau to have the audacity to visit Vancouver for a Liberal party fundraiser after ignoring voices on the coast and pushing forward the dangerous Kinder Morgan pipeline. If you agree, join me on the streets on April 5th to give Trudeau a real welcome to the Salish Coast.
WHEN: Thursday April 5th at 5:30PM
WHERE: We will meet at the Vancouver Art Gallery
WHAT: We'll march together to Trudeau’s fundraiser, where the Prime Minister hopes to fill his re-election coffers. With enough people outside, he’ll have to spend the whole night explaining to these supporters why he’s willing to risk a catastrophic oil spill in their backyards.
Let us know that you can make it -- and invite your friends.
You might have been there on March 10th when 10,000 people marched in solidarity with Coast Salish spiritual leaders who simultaneously built a watch house -- a structure used by their people for generations to watch over enemies -- on the path of the Kinder Morgan pipeline on Burnaby Mountain. On that day, Indigenous spiritual leaders called on all of us to “warrior up” in the fight against Kinder Morgan.
Of course, people were eager to heed this call. From March 17th to 24th, 172 people were arrested at the gates of the Kinder Morgan facility on Burnaby Mountain. These courageous action takers included Indigenous activists, youth, retirees, and many others. There were some high profile participants as well: Indigenous actress and activist, Carmen Moore; the leader of the Green Party of Canada, Elizabeth May; and NDP MP, Kennedy Stewart. May and Stewart became the first ever sitting MPs to get arrested in solidarity with an Indigenous-led fight for climate justice. A sincere thanks if you were there risking arrest, standing in support or volunteering your time. Learn more about this historical stand by clicking here.
In the midst of all this, on March 23rd, people like yourself in over 50 communities all across Canada flooded the offices of Liberal MPs and Cabinet Ministers to deliver water samples from the coast of British Columbia. Thousands participated all across the country to call on their MPs to stand up to defend the water from Kinder Morgan. They truly proved that resistance to Kinder Morgan stretches from coast to coast and that this project most certainly is not in our national interest. Watch and share the video from these actions.
Then, just this Tuesday, community members in Ottawa staged an occupation at the office of federal Environment and Climate Change Minister Catherine McKenna. They held space until the Minister agreed to pay a visit to the Coast Salish Watch House on Burnaby Mountain -- date is to be confirmed. The Ottawa-based residents pledged to visit the office again to hold the Minister to her word.
So much has happened and we could really use your help with spreading the word. Can you help us out by sharing this blog with your friends and family?
Resistance to Kinder Morgan is here to stay. Bold actions will continue on Burnaby Mountain until we stop Kinder Morgan from trampling over Indigenous rights, devastating the coast, and wrecking our climate by building its TransMountain pipeline and tanker project. Let’s make sure Trudeau gets that message on April 5th -- join me for resistance on the streets of downtown Vancouver.
Thank you for all your support.
In solidarity,
Atiya
PS - The Watch House and the Coast Salish spiritual leaders who are supporting it need important resources to continue standing in resistance. If you can, please consider making a donation to the Watch House.
