Vancouver pipeline protesters rally in support of Standing Rock

Rally targeted banks protesters say will benefit from the pipeline

Protesters once again marched through downtown Vancouver on Thursday night, carrying signs and chanting anti-pipeline sentiments.

While it's a scene familiar to the west coast, the rally didn't have a local target — instead, it was meant as a symbol of solidarity for the Standing Rock demonstrators in North Dakota.

Thousands of them have been camped out for months in opposition of the Dakota Access Pipeline.

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"It's not right because what they're doing is a peaceful protest," says local protester Gordon August.

"They're not up there with arms or using language or cutting people down. They're just standing on the front line protecting their land."

 

 

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#NoDAPL protesters chanting, "We stand with Standing Rock," at rally along #Georgia & #Burrard in downtown #Vancouver. #YVR #CBC @cbcnewsbc

6:44 PM - 1 Dec 2016 · Vancouver, British Columbia

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While this latest rally wasn't centred around any B.C. project, like Kinder Morgan's Trans Mountain pipeline or Enbridge's Northern Gateway project, protesters say their march down West Georgia Street was strategic.

The 200 or so demonstrators purposely raised their voices in front of Scotiabank, TD and RBC: the three banks rally organizer Eric Lescarbeau said are major players in funding the Dakota Access pipeline.

"We're actually telling people that you can ... talk to your bank and tell them you're unhappy about the fact they're investing in projects that are leading to these kinds of human rights abuses," he said.

"Or they can even close their accounts and move them to a credit union, or another institution that doesn't fund these kinds of projects."

The Vancouver rally was one of many held worldwide in what was called a global day of action.

[Top photo: Protesters stand outside a Vancouver, B.C. bank on Dec. 1, 2016. (CBC)]