Protesters dug the road on Argyle Street at the south end of Caledonia, Ont., Adding an overturned school bus and car to the barricade
Brian Thompson / The Expositor
CALEDONIA Turmoil has returned to Caledonia as indigenous protesters dug up Argyle Street South and McKenzie Road, creating barricades of overturned vehicles, smoldering debris and broken asphalt
Ontario Premier Doug Ford on Friday called on Indigenous protesters to engage in peaceful talks with his government
He called the protesters « bad apples », saying his government has good relations with First Nations
« But I will not tolerate anyone who attacks our police, our community, burns telephone poles and digs roads, » the prime minister said at a press conference « This is unacceptable and will not be tolerated »
The protesters, who call themselves defenders of the land, were reacting to Judge John Harper’s release of a permanent injunction on Thursday, ordering them to leave the McKenzie Meadows construction site they have occupied since July
Videos posted to social media Thursday showed Indigenous protesters throwing objects at OPP vehicles on Argyle Street South and Sixth Line Road, forcing officers to retreat
Hours after the ruling, Provincial Police said cruisers near the McKenzie Meadows site were approached by protesters and were badly damaged
Early Friday morning, OPP notified the public of road closures and detour routes, including the closure of the Highway 6 ring road, where debris was strewn over the north end of the bridge on the Grand River
« Gone are the days of forcing indigenous peoples to leave their land, » said Skyler Williams, spokesperson for the protesters, in a video posted to Instagram on Thursday. « We were driven from our lands and suffered for it Our grandparents opposed this, and today we oppose the same oppressive tactics »
Throughout Friday morning, people came to the southern end of Caledonia to see a school bus lying on the side of Rue Argyle Sud, near the entrance to the old subdivision of Douglas Creek Estates, the scene of a similar land claim dispute in 2006
Carol, a nurse who has lived in Caledonia for 30 years, says she is worried about the elderly if the protesters resort to the power cut
« The cops don’t come in because they know there will be gunshots and lives will be lost, » she said « Doug Ford has to get his ass in here «
The woman said she understands the protesters’ issues, but wonders why they don’t go to Queen’s Park or Ottawa instead of hurting the people of Caledonia
Haldimand County issued a statement saying the municipality is using all available resources to encourage peaceful restoration of blocked roads and an end to illegal occupation of land
« No matter how large an issue, it cannot be tolerated to deliberately take illegal actions that create havoc for others, » said Kyra Hayes, Haldimand Business Manager « The end does not justify the means in a civil society regardless of historical injustices »
Haldimand Mayor Ken Hewitt said it was unfair that the community was « dramatically affected as pawns in a dispute in which we were not a party »
« Anyone who believes in a just and equitable society where laws have meaning should urge the province to take appropriate action in this regard »
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Calédonie
News from the world – CA – The blockades return to Caledonia in response to an injunction
SOURCE: https://www.w24news.com
