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Old-growth Logging Blockade Arrests Continue as Activists Stand Their Ground

On Thursday, the RCMP enforcement of a BC Supreme Court injunction continued with the arrests of six more people at an encampment area near Port Renfrew.

The number of arrests at old-growth logging blockades near Port Renfrew and Cowichan Lake has now surpassed 130.

Since enforcement began, the RCMP has now arrested a total of 133 individuals. The police say at least 9 were previously arrested.

Tuesday witnessed 58 arrests, the largest number in a single day.

On Tuesday there was also a show of support for the blockades by seniors from Victoria.

Eighty-two-year-old Saul Arbess says 70 to 100 seniors traveled from Victoria to the injunction enforcement zone.

“We started from Victoria, we picked up a few other people along the way, but basically a crowd of seniors from Victoria; we called ourselves the circle of elders.”

Arbess, who is a member of the Rainforest Flying Squad himself, was part of the group and says they want to see the province end the clear-cutting of the last remnants of the old-growth forests and transition to sustainable management of second growth, which he says will produce more jobs.

“We support loggers, we support the workers, we know there’s a tradition in logging families that go back generations, we want their young people to be able to work, but to be able to work in a situation which is sustainable forestry.”

Arbess says the RCMP observed the group of seniors walking along the road but did not try to stop them.

Mike Patterson
Mike Patterson
News Director

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