Protesters "beaten and threatened" after briefly blocking B.C.
legislature entrances.
Thursday, May 15, 2003
Protesters try to stop B.C. Liberal cabinet members from entering the Legislature Thursday morning, while security pushes protesters off steps.
VICTORIA -- 58 activists protested provincial cutbacks and government infringement of our Rights, on the eve of the second anniversary of the provincial election.
Protesters peacefully blocked entrances to the legislature and parking lots with "police tape" and a bicycle.
Protesters began chanting "general strike" and "stop government aggression" as they stood in front of the legislature.
The protesters, dressed in black shirts, some wearing masks and berets, marched around the building shouting toward MLA's who refused to speak to them.
Despite the peaceful protest, dozens of Police cars raced wildly up streets filled with children and adults alike - sirens blaring. Nearly two dozen officers leaped out of their cars, some brandishing batons and tasers weapons, and ran to the legislature to join security staff.
Liberal MLA Blair Lekstrom, who arrived early in the protest, was heard by some to say " I hope the cops deal with these scumbags..."
Liberal Barry Penner summed up the legislature protest by calling the activists "rebels without a clue." As elected government, we have the power to take away any Rights we feel like, and if people can't deal with that, that's tough.
The Liberals ended 10 years of NDP government with a crushing victory in the May 15, 2001 election. The Liberals captured 77 out of 79 seats, despite the fact less than half the eligible voters voted for them.
© Copyright 2003 BC Revolution
Thursday, May 15, 2003
Protesters try to stop B.C. Liberal cabinet members from entering the Legislature Thursday morning, while security pushes protesters off steps.
VICTORIA -- 58 activists protested provincial cutbacks and government infringement of our Rights, on the eve of the second anniversary of the provincial election.
Protesters peacefully blocked entrances to the legislature and parking lots with "police tape" and a bicycle.
Protesters began chanting "general strike" and "stop government aggression" as they stood in front of the legislature.
The protesters, dressed in black shirts, some wearing masks and berets, marched around the building shouting toward MLA's who refused to speak to them.
Despite the peaceful protest, dozens of Police cars raced wildly up streets filled with children and adults alike - sirens blaring. Nearly two dozen officers leaped out of their cars, some brandishing batons and tasers weapons, and ran to the legislature to join security staff.
Liberal MLA Blair Lekstrom, who arrived early in the protest, was heard by some to say " I hope the cops deal with these scumbags..."
Liberal Barry Penner summed up the legislature protest by calling the activists "rebels without a clue." As elected government, we have the power to take away any Rights we feel like, and if people can't deal with that, that's tough.
The Liberals ended 10 years of NDP government with a crushing victory in the May 15, 2001 election. The Liberals captured 77 out of 79 seats, despite the fact less than half the eligible voters voted for them.
© Copyright 2003 BC Revolution
Robert Polton
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