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"Buy It or Guard It!"
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by clorenz1 | October 24, 2006 at 09:39 am
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There was a great exclusive from Dutchphoto on the squatter occupation in Vancouver's downtown eastside this weekend. Today there will be more classic Civil disobedience just a few steps away from NP headquarters on the door steps of Gastown. At around one o'clock pm, the police will arrive to arrest, and then remove the squatters from the North Star Hotel. The best comment I heard was on local radio last night, reminding everyone how cold it is outside, dampened Vancouver nights which many of us take for granted are nothing short of brutal if you have no place to go. And when understanding why people would fight for an empty space, unused property. The question becomes not where would you go with no place to sleep. But, would you not stand up once you found it?
"We're not leaving without being taken out, and police have developed an operational plan to make that happen. That looks like that's what's going to happen at 1 o'clock if Sam doesn't show up.
"There are no plans to resist arrest. It's a peaceful demonstration. So they'll come in and take people out."
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (2)
at 12:22 on October 24th, 2006
I don't mean to be unsympathetic, but didn't someone "buy it"?
at 13:51 on October 24th, 2006
No, that is a good question. One that many people will ask I am sure. I am going to put up video from today and more photographs as well as an interview with David Cunningham. Yes, the building has been bought, but from my understanding a year has gone by since it was bought and nothing has been done with it. The idea behind squatting in this building is to put political pressure on the Mayor of Vancouver and the NPA. Vancouver has been in a housing crisis for a long time, and finding homes for the homeless, has taken a back seat to the out of control Olympic budget. The theme on the streets was revolving heavily around this issue. And while the squatters were illegally occupying a piece of property owned in private, the space is a symbol for this area, the lower east side, and the empty spaces which may be owned but still sit unused as so many crowd the streets.
The police arrived at around 1:30 PST and removed the squatters in front of a large crowd who had assembled. I took the first set of photographs and then recorded a NP audio file from my phone. Then I returned and shot more video as the crowds grew larger, the loud speakers were used, and the traffic on Hastings came to a stop. It was peaceful in most respects on the part of all involved and camera crews packed the side walk along with an array of supporters organized by the APC (Anti- Poverty Committe).
As a resident of Vancouver, and someone who sees this area everyday it is hard not agree with an argument that speaks to helping people find homes.
I have a ton of footage and I am hoping to put together an exclusive story with a video of the scene today.