Health

Trafficking in Disruption: Drug Injection Site Holds Party on Hastings St. during Rush Hour

by jr | October 26, 2008 at 01:36 pm

136 views | 10 Recommendations | 5 comments

Supporters of Insite, Vancouver's supervised drug injection site, disrupted rush hour traffic on Hastings St. just after 5 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 23 to hold a party in support of keeping the facility open. “Play Music Not Politics” read a banner in a tent where a band was scheduled to play.

Scores of Vancouver Police arrived and refused to allow the band to play. Police shut down the entire 100 block Hastings and diverted traffic.

According to Vancouver Police spokeswoman Jana McGuinness, the PSH Community Services Society which operates Insite had been denied a permit to hold the party on Hastings. The City had offered them an alternative location just a 100 feet away on Columbia St., "where they could party all night if they wanted to."

To read the full story and see lots of photos, go to Downtown Eastside Enquirer

0 See all footage | View Slideshow

Share: email story | add to any | | facebook | stumbleupon

recommend This comment thread is now closed

abrielle32981

at 13:52 on October 26th, 2008

http://www.emmyrose.com/2008/10/19/madonna Music brings joy to one’s soul. It uplifts my spirit especially when I am feeling stressed out and sad.

Barry Artiste

at 07:12 on October 27th, 2008

Unless your trying to drive home and have to take a different route because of traffic backlog, then it doesnt really uplift anything except a middle finger from drivers.,

eastvanray

at 09:17 on October 28th, 2008

I'm with you Barry. The f*ckin traffic jam made me late for dinner. I am a music lover but you don't see me blocking traffic to listen to it.

jenten (not verified)

at 14:23 on October 30th, 2008

Another stupid and annoying publicity prank by PIVOT and the Portland Hotel Society. It's hard to say which is more irritating - the junkies or their advocacy organizations.