Issues Pages:
Fracking blockade chaos
Thu, 2013-10-17 13:14
#1
Fracking blockade chaos
Thu, 2013-10-17 13:26
#2
http://o.canada.com/news/rcmp-move-in-on-mikmaq-fracking-protesters-in-new-brunswick/
http://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/rcmp-vehicles-on-fire-at-n-b-shale-gas-protest-1.1500862
[at least one more cruiser was torched at another location]
most of these articles have been updated, and will no doubt continue to be
Thu, 2013-10-17 13:50
#3
kim elliott
Thu, 2013-10-17 13:53
#4
It's actually video from about 5 hours ago, right?
Thu, 2013-10-17 14:01
#5
kim elliott
Yes, it appears so. Looking for some other live coverage. Looks like some RCMP cars are on fire, according to Twitter
Thu, 2013-10-17 14:28
#7
Boom Boom
CBC just reported 40 arrested.
Thu, 2013-10-17 17:07
#8
kim elliott
From Facebook... "Six Nations shuts down highway #6 in Ontario in support of Elsipogtog"
There are many solidarity events being planned. Here are some:
Montreal: https://www.facebook.com/events/679333798746468/?source=1
Edmonton: https://www.facebook.com/events/559866710728588/?ref_dashboard_filter=ca...
Vancouver: https://www.facebook.com/events/681117658565367/?ref_dashboard_filter=ca...
Thu, 2013-10-17 17:19
#9
Kaitlin McNabb
Great resource, a fracking backgrounder, from No One Is Illegal
Support Actions for Mi’kmaq anti fracking blocakde
Nice quick synopsis of what is going on right now.
Since the summer Mi’kmaq residents, as well as anglophone and Acadians, have confiscated fracking equipment and blockaded the road leading to an equipment compound leased to South Western Energy or SWN. SWN is a Texas based energy company that has been attempting to conduct natural gas exploration in the area’s shale formations. If significant deposits of gas are found through seismic testing, SWN would then employ the highly-polluting and water-intensive extraction method of hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking, to extract natural gas deposits from shale gas formations.
Thu, 2013-10-17 17:38
#10
One of the 40 arrested this morning was Media Coop reporter Miles Howe.
Miles has been reporting for months and has many articles you can scan here.
Apparently Six Nations blocked Hwy 6 in solidarity. There will be many more such actions.
Thu, 2013-10-17 17:48
#11
Thu, 2013-10-17 17:51
#12
UPDATE: Mi’kmaq Resist! 6 RCMP Cars Torched, Fracking Equipment Confiscated
In retaliation against a violent police raid this morning on a peaceful First Nations blockade, Mi’kmaq warriors and supporters have fought back.
The RCMP appear to have arrested journalist Miles Howe, who has been reporting on the Elsipogtog struggle against the illegal gas grab on indigenous lands. More than 200 RCMP are participating in the raid, including snipers in fatigues. Ambulances have been prevented from treating protestors wounded by pepper spray, plastic bullets, and general brutality.
As of the time of writing this, six RCMP vehicles have been torched, and melees of stones have been hurled in response to tear gas, plastic bullets, and pepper spray from the RCMP. Mi’kmaq allies have also confiscated fracking equipment in continued efforts to maintain the blockade against the gas company.....
http://earthfirstjournal.org/newswire/2013/10/17/update-mikmaq-resist-6-...
Thu, 2013-10-17 18:05
#13
RCMP sniper pointing at crowd of youths now at #mikmaqblockade #Elsipogtog #IdleNoMore
Thu, 2013-10-17 18:08
#14
Strong and Proud Original Women are the leaders in any action against oppression. Sisters stand front line #stabdforwhatisright #together we stand !! See u there tomorrow !!
Thu, 2013-10-17 18:15
#15
Listuguj bridge blockade in solidarity with Elisipogtog who are currently protecting their unceeded lands from Fracking.
Thu, 2013-10-17 18:20
#16
Some of the artillery brought in by the cops at the once peaceful Elsipogtog blockade. Who is the instigator of violence when you see stuff like this happening??
Thu, 2013-10-17 18:45
#17
UPDATE: RCMP Appear to Be Withdrawing as Solidarity Protests Spread
Early reports are saying that the RCMP appears to be withdrawing from the Mi’kmaq blockade, leaving hundreds of protesters victorious (for now). The armored personnel carrier has reportedly left the scene already, and more vehicles are leaving presently.
Canada is currently in an uproar about the violent surprise attack on the Mi’kmaq’s peaceful blockade this morning, which involved sniper rifles, attack dogs, tear gas, pepper spray, and plastic bullets. Solidarity protests have spread throughout “North American” cities, from Washington, DC, to Ontario, Canada. At the same time, a solidarity blockade of Highway 5 by the Six Nations in Ontario snarled traffic for hours.....
Thu, 2013-10-17 20:29
#18
Fri, 2013-10-18 00:35
#19
Tell the RCMP: Don’t violently intervene in peaceful First Nations protests
http://you.leadnow.ca/petitions/tell-the-rcmp-don-t-violently-intervene-...
Fri, 2013-10-18 02:42
#20
Police Attack New Brunswick Anti-Frack Protest
http://bsnorrell.blogspot.ca/2013/10/police-attack-new-brunswick-anti-fr...
"To defend the rights of an American company, the RCMP came in with essentially para-military units including snipers, to remove the opposition.
This is big oil pushing the First Nations into submission . That is their goal. The Conservative Government of Canada is only a tool of big business..."
Toronto Elsipogtog Solidarity - Emergency Gathering, Friday, Oct 18, 4 PM
Metro Toronto Convention Center, 222 Bremner Boulevard, south building
At Bremner and Lower Simcoe
Fri, 2013-10-18 07:10
#21
They came prepared for war: RCMP crackdown on peaceful Mik’maq protest
quote:
The RCMP raid is widely being considered a preemptive action to prevent the October 18 day of action that was issued 5 days ago by the Mik’maq Warriors Society.
In the call to action, Suzane Patles, an Ilnu woman and member of the Mi'kmaq Warrior Society calls for physical support at the blockade, solidarity actions across Turtle Island on Oct. 18th and a flooding of Kanadian official representatives' phone and mail lines in protest of the court injunction that the RCMP enforced today.
http://intercontinentalcry.org/came-prepared-war-rcmp-crackdown-peaceful...
Fri, 2013-10-18 08:01
#22
Weird how the RCMP swoops in, escalates a non-violent action that's been going on for weeks, then vanishes. What did it accomplish, other than bullying peaceful FN protestors and pissing off already pissed off progressives? The Throne Speech made it clear that Harper plans to trample Indigenous land and resource rights, and this police action certainly hammered it home, but what else was happening yesterday that more or less dropped off the media radar when this happened? Harper was in Brussels to sign CETA ...
http://canadians.org/media/canada-eu-trade-deal-sell-out-or-celebration-...
Just sayin' is all.
Fri, 2013-10-18 08:27
#23
It put another nail in Alward's political coffin. I'm currently reading The Inconvenient Indian which makes these events even more poignant to me.
ETA:
A councillor with the Elsipogtog First Nation in New Brunswick says meetings are planned for today between Chief Aaron Sock and Premier David Alward following yesterday's violence during a protest over land use for shale gas exploration in Rexton.
Sock and Elsipogtog Coun. Robert Levi were among 40 people arrested Thursday as RCMP enforced an injunction to end a weeks-long demonstration against shale gas exploration involving a coalition of native and non-native protesters. Five police vehicles were among six vehicles set ablaze and destroyed during the clash.
Fri, 2013-10-18 11:48
#24
Breaking: Advisers to Chief Sock in Anti-Shale Gas Negotiations are Provincial Government Employees
https://www.facebook.com/IdleNoMoreCommunity/posts/10151982231418729
"John Deveau - adviser - well-positioned to profit from talks, Indigenous unrest, resource development..."
Fri, 2013-10-18 12:25
#25
Solidarity Protests and Blockades Ignite Across Turtle Island in Solidarity with Mi’kmaq
quote:
Numerous infrastructure points throughout Canada were snarled by indigenous blockades in the immediate aftermath of the state invasion of the Mi’qmak. At least 30 solidarity protests are also being undertaken according to Idle No More.
According to Santa Cruz Indigenous Solidarity, by 3pm yesterday six peaceful highway and bridge blockades had been errected at Roads in Burnt Church (NB), Tobique (NB), Esgenoopetitj (NB), Hamilton (ON) and Six Nations (ON).
The Listuguj Mi’Gmaq built a tipi on the VanHorne bridge, blocking traffic on the Quebec-New Brunswick border.
In Winnipeg, protestors tied up traffic at the intersection of Portage and Main, burning a Canadian flag to protest against the Crown’s historic betrayal of First Nations treaty rights. Police appeared to be clearing the way for the march, halting traffic at numerous points.
In Montreal, members of the Mohawk nation gathered to show solidarity. During the RCMP crackdown on the Mi’kmaq Blockade, many observers compared the state’s repressive response to the 1990 Oka Crisis, which saw the Mohawk resist development on their lands for months.
New York, Washington, DC, and numerous other cities across the US have also seen solidarity demonstrations....
Fri, 2013-10-18 13:28
#26
Boom Boom
CBC: bail denied, most of the protestors will spend the weekend in jail.
Fri, 2013-10-18 13:49
#27
Vancouver
Friday, Oct 18th
Going (1,225)..so far
A march will be started right a 4:00 pm, we are asking everyone to show up at 3:30 as we will be seeking a few more volunteers to become peace keepers/marshals to help keep everyone calm in case any issue may arise.
THIS IS BASED ON A PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATION. Bring drums and anything that will make noise, it is also suggested that you bring water because the march will take up some time as we will be taking to the streets.
........
I am told: Elispogtok is phonemically pronounced "Elsibooktook"
.........
In case of an unexpected skytrain shut down... people need to know other ways of transit to get to this. I remember when INM and meeting place was at Native Ed.. the skytrains unexpectedly shut down right around the time of the set meeting.
.........
it is important to remember to bring your recording devices so we can keep a record of the event and will also ensure of safety for all so do not forget to bring your smart phones lol
Fri, 2013-10-18 14:17
#28
Fri, 2013-10-18 16:06
#29
New Brunswick: Several shale gas protesters now charged after clash
Mischief, obstruction among charges laid after 40 arrested Thursday as police-protesters clashed
Eight of the 40 people arrested Thursday in a protest over land used for shale gas exploration in Rexton, N.B., have been charged following the violent clash between RCMP and protesters.
The charges Friday include:
- Mischief.
- Breach of an undertaking to keep the peace.
- Unlawful confinement.
- Obstruction.
Some of the protesters arrested will remain in jail over the weekend out of a concern for a protest revival, a Moncton court was told Friday....
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/several-n-b-shale-gas-protes...
Fri, 2013-10-18 16:09
#30
I would like to know what the missing other half of this photo shows.
RCMP sniper pointing at crowd of youths now at #mikmaqblockade #Elsipogtog #IdleNoMore
Fri, 2013-10-18 16:11
#31
There is no question that the Canadian government and the RCMP can win the battle of the bullets, but the Harper Cons may well lose the battle for public opinion in the process.
Fri, 2013-10-18 16:11
#32
RCMP used overwhelming force to serve injunction on wrong road
I have been camping at the current blockade along highway 134 since the inception of the encampment, filing almost daily reports for the Media Coop. During June and July of this year, when protests against shale gas exploration in New Brunswick were of far less national interest, I was doing the same.
Around 6am yesterday morning, October 17th, RCMP forces again blocked off both sides of the anti-shale gas encampment along highway 134, this time with an as yet unseen amount of police force. For numerous days prior, RCMP were allowing first walking traffic, then one lane of automobile traffic, to pass freely through the blockaded area. Anti-shale activists, as a measure of good faith, and in deference to emergency vehicles in particular, had days earlier removed two felled trees that had completely blocked off vehicular traffic.
The move, of course, allowed traffic flow to resume to near normal. It also allowed unhindered access to RCMP, who as it will be made clear were scouting out the area and making plans for an ultimate take-down of the traffic-slowing, but completely peaceful, protest.
Yesterday, I first heard that the roads were blocked off by someone screaming in a tented area near the entrance gate to the compound that housed SWN Resources Canada’s seismic testing equipment, in the vicinity of where I was camped. At the time, I was asleep....
http://halifax.mediacoop.ca/story/rcmp-bring-60-drawn-guns-dogs-assault-rifles-serve/19358
Fri, 2013-10-18 16:18
#33
N.B. shale gas solidarity protests spread to other regions Events held in Montreal, Ottawa, Thunder Bay and elsewhere in support of New Brunswick demonstrators
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/n-b-shale-gas-solidarity-protests-spread-t...
Fri, 2013-10-18 16:21
#34
Amazing account by Miles Howe - thanks, paolo.
And this:
This all occurred long before images of bandana-ed Indigenous people, who veracity as true grassroots activists and not provocateurs is now being closely examined, ever set fire to a single RCMP squad car in Rexton.
The first time I ever encountered a burned police car (QPP), the culprits were cops (Montréal police on strike). That was 1969.
I have never heard of anyone arrested, charged, convicted for burning a cop car. That includes the infamous case at the G20.
So I had my doubts when I saw this story. Let's hope the investigation Miles refers to produces some results.
Fri, 2013-10-18 16:47
#35
N.B. shale gas solidarity protests spread to other regions Events held in Montreal, Ottawa, Thunder Bay and elsewhere in support of New Brunswick demonstratorshttp://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/n-b-shale-gas-solidarity-protests-spread-t...
quote:
"One of the biggest strategies that has been used against us time and time again is … the divide and conquer strategy," said Robert Animikii Horton, who helped organize the Thunder Bay protest. "What we’re seeing now, since they’ve shaken the beehive, is unprecedented solidarity all across Turtle Island."
Fri, 2013-10-18 16:52
#36
I have seen a burnt police car only once and that was in 1973. I am firmly convinced there were no agent provocateurs involved. I missed the action because I was at the third bonfire down the beach not near the parking lot where the largest group was partying hard. I only saw the burnt out car when I was leaving. It happened because 4 RCMP tried to shut down a remote drunken beach party of about 400 teenagers and twentysome year olds. Every drunk kid on the beach understood that the RCMP had to wait for a ferry in the morning to bring in reinforcements. It was my understanding that the Officers were not unduly harmed and were allowed to flee the scene. Noone was arrested.
Fri, 2013-10-18 17:08
#37
They came prepared for war: RCMP crackdown on peaceful Mik’maq protestd
i guess no one else noticed the rocket launcher the guy at the back right has in his hands? wtf? they don't fire rubber bullets people
yes they came prepared for war. why did they stop?
Fri, 2013-10-18 18:36
#38
What did it accomplish, other than bullying peaceful FN protestors and pissing off already pissed off progressives?
They have the media reporting news stories to the rest of Canada about protestors fire bombing police cars, shooting (at)someone, having weapon offenses and "possibly" having an explosive device. As far as public opinion I think the RCMP won that round.
Fri, 2013-10-18 18:37
#39
They came prepared for war: RCMP crackdown on peaceful Mik’maq protestd
i guess no one else noticed the rocket launcher the guy at the back right has in his hands? wtf? they don't fire rubber bullets people
yes they came prepared for war. why did they stop?
What rocket launcher?
Fri, 2013-10-18 18:44
#40
Listening to the CBC right now, it appears that support for the protestors is plummeting now that the RCMP has released details about all the weapons, and munitions they seized from them.
Fri, 2013-10-18 18:48
#41
Listening to the CBC right now, it appears that support for the protestors is plummeting now that the RCMP has released details about all the weapons, and munitions they seized from them.
I'm hearing that too.
SKS military-style rifles with bayonets attached to the end and illegal magazines.
Scopped rifle.
A dozen pipebombs
Fri, 2013-10-18 19:00
#42
Boom Boom
All that stuff was likely planted by the RCMP to justify over the top tactics.
Fri, 2013-10-18 19:11
#43
They came prepared for war: RCMP crackdown on peaceful Mik’maq protesti guess no one else noticed the rocket launcher the guy at the back right has in his hands? wtf? they don't fire rubber bullets people
yes they came prepared for war. why did they stop?
What rocket launcher?
check the 2nd person back. it's not a rifle they're holding unlike the sniper in front.
state tv announcing they found stuff. not surprised. but ask where in hell did they supposedly "find it"?
Fri, 2013-10-18 19:26
#44
oh and where are the charges reflecting what they say they found?
Fri, 2013-10-18 19:43
#45
Dont assume that talk of found weapons gets support plummeting. At most it gets a 'quavering'... and then we see where that goes.
They dish out this BS to cover their asses.... whether or not anyone except the predictables believe it as literal truth.
And I think that weapon is a bean bag shooter... similar to, but less likely to injure than the rubber bullets. I think the idea is debilitating pain without broken bones and less risk of head injuries.
At any rate, its not an RPG.
Fri, 2013-10-18 19:53
#46
It would not be the first time police resort to dirty tricks.
This is primarily a propaganda war, and I trust little what is said by either side and their respective cheering sections.
We can now however expect a full frontal attack on all these, what I suppose are illegal and dangerous weapons, by the business community, and their lackey puppets in the press.
It is just the same ole, same ole shit. Can't somebody come up with a new approach?
Listening to the CBC right now, it appears that support for the protestors is plummeting now that the RCMP has released details about all the weapons, and munitions they seized from them.
I'm hearing that too.
SKS military-style rifles with bayonets attached to the end and illegal magazines.
Scopped rifle.
A dozen pipebombs
Fri, 2013-10-18 23:03
#47
So are the demonstrations over in downtown Vancouver for now, as I have to drive to the North Shore tonite, and I don't want to get delayed in traffic. 
Sat, 2013-10-19 00:42
#48
TELL THE RCMP: DON’T VIOLENTLY INTERVENE IN PEACEFUL FIRST NATIONS PROTESTS
http://you.leadnow.ca/petitions/tell-the-rcmp-don-t-violently-intervene-...
Sat, 2013-10-19 03:56
#49
Lots of us in Nova Scotia are making the trek to Moncton for a Global Frackdown Day rally planned before recent events, but will no doubt be larger now. Moncton is less than an hour from Rexton and Elsipogtog. It also where the seismic equipment and crews stayed during the summer, and might soon be put again, now that the equipment has been removed from the compound. The compound that was already un-blockaded by the police hours BEFORE they attacked on Thursday.
No one I know has heard, even on social media, of planned events in Rexton or Elsipogtog today. But that will likely develop. For one thing, the location has to change. But that already happened literally overnight at least once during the summer.
Sat, 2013-10-19 04:04
#50
Apparently, Elsipogtog Chief Sock [who with Council was among those arrested] and Premeir Alward have agreed to a "one week cooling off period."
No word yet on what that means. Among other things, does SWN stay away during that time?
Sat, 2013-10-19 08:33
#51
..good turnout in vancouver yesterday. one speaker drove home the point over and over that we here in bc need to get ready for what is coming. and the need for greater numbers. good start for this newly forming coalition.
..in pictures:
West Coast Rally: Mi'kmaq - We've Got Your Back
COAST SALISH TERITORY - More than 1,000 people rallied in downtown Vancouver this afternoon to show solidarity and support for the Elsipogtog and Mi'kmaq anti-fracking blockade.
After speeches outside the Art Gallery, supporters wove through downtown streets to chants of "Mi'kmaq We've got Your Back" following the assault and mass arrest yesterday by heavily-armed RCMP officers on the Elsipogtog blockade in New Brunswick.
RCMP, including those in riot gear, snipers and attack dogs descended on the peaceful Mi’kmaq highway closure on behalf of a US mining company. Forty people were arrested including elders, local council members and Media Co-op reporter Miles Howe.
http://vancouver.mediacoop.ca/photo/west-coast-rally-mikmaq-weve-got-you...