Saying arrests could happen at any time, organizers of a Vancouver Island protest to save old growth forest are imploring its followers to take a stand and be ready for action as police close in..“The arrests at Fairy Creek and Caycuse are IMMINENT,” read a social media post by the conservation group called the Rainforest Flying Squad that has been entrenched since the protests to save old growth forests began..“Let’s be ready to support blockaders and our ancient forests. noon, (at the BC Legislative building), the DAY AFTER arrests start.”.The protests — at Fairy Creek and nearby Cayacuse — began about 10 months ago when a dozen people tried to stop road construction and logging in the headwaters of the Fairy Creek watershed..However, an injunction — authorizing the removal of anyone obstructing logging crews’ access to the cutblocks and worksites of Teal Ceda — was granted April 1..Since that date, public support for the effort has rapidly expanded, drawing hundreds of men, women and children to the blockades across a tract of land between Lake Cowichan and Port Renfrew, known as Tree Farm Licence 46..“(The injunction) only empowers the protests, it will spread, and it’s by our dedication and commitment to our caring for our Great Mother that other people are seeing it, and now the Caycuse protest has opened up ,” Pacheedaht First Nation Elder Bill Jones said in an interview with reporters..“I think they’re others and there is certainly a lot of people openly supporting.”.The protests have been peaceful, with few interactions with police, and it is unknown why protesters believe arrests are imminent. Police have not publicly stated when — or if — they will be going to the blockades to make arrests..Still, protesters have asked for more public support in the form of a demonstration at the BC Legislature, “the day after” arrests take place..“We understand that attending a rally at such short notice, especially in the middle of your workday, might seem difficult or impossible!” read the Rainforest Flying Squad Facebook post..“Like Bill Jones, we implore you to show your solidarity with the camper arrestees who are risking so much—time, family, career, finances, and arrest—to protect the VERY VERY VERY LAST of our ancient forest ecosystems.”.The Western Standard will update this story as it develops..Mike D’Amour is the British Columbia Bureau Chief for the Western Standard..,.mdamour@westernstandardonline.com
