After the seizure of several weapons from a small group that joined the larger group at the Coutts blockade, organizers say they feel it’s best to wrap up the protest at the Alberta border and go home..Jory Evans took to Facebook with the announcement on behalf of blockade organizers..Evans said after a Monday evening meeting with other organizers, it was decided the group will stay the night and end the blockade Tuesday morning..Admitting the blockade caused stress and strife on farms, trucking companies, and other businesses, Evans said the intent was “not to hurt our fellow Canadians.”.Evans said protesters already feel the RCMP hasn’t been playing fair and said now with the Emergencies Act (EA), he feels things will become “unhinged” and the truckers have no chance to win..“We didn’t sign up to come here and start a war. The intention was to be peaceful,” said Evans.. thumbnail_RCMP-seizure-Coutts-1Photo of items seized by RCMP raid at Coutts border blockade .RCMP announced Monday morning they seized a cache of firearms from a small organized group within the larger Coutts protest after executing a search warrant for a location near the blockade..“Information was received that this group had access to a cache of firearms with a large quantity of ammunition,” said RCMP in the release..“The group was said to have a willingness to use force against the police if any attempts were made to disrupt the blockade..“As a result of this investigation, the Alberta RCMP executed a search warrant during the early hours of Feb. 14, on three trailers associated to this criminal organization.”.Organizers of the blockade at Coutts told the Western Standard they are not associated with this group in any way and “condemn their actions 100%.”.“We don’t know who these individuals are or where they are from,” said Marko Van Huigenbos, one of the main organizers at the blockade..“Due to being infiltrated by a group with violent intentions, we have decided to go on our terms,” said organizer Marko Van Huigenbos..“They brought guns into our community. We cannot let that be louder than our message. We will roll out of here peacefully..“We can’t control all the people joining us. We had a tough call to make and I feel we made the right one.”.Melanie Risdon is a reporter with the Western Standard.,.mrisdon@westernstandardonline.com
