The Canadian Press reports, “A group of protesters who had been blockading an Enbridge pumping station in Ontario since last week has been charged after police moved in Wednesday to remove them from the property. Hamilton police said protesters were given 24-hours notice to leave after Enbridge obtained a court injunction Tuesday, and 18 protesters were arrested when they refused to leave the station. Police spokeswoman Debbie McGreal-Dinning said 13 men and women, between 19 and 25-years-old, were charged with trespassing. Four protesters were charged with mischief and one other with breaking and entering with intent to commit mischief. She said all were being released after they were processed.”
Yesterday, CBC reported that a day of action in support of the Line 9 occupation took place in 10 Ontario cities, as well as in Edmonton and Vancouver. Council of Canadians chapters in London, Hamilton, Peterborough, Vancouver and other cities took part in these actions. The Winnipeg chapter helped to spread the word about the day of action. The Guelph, Brant and Hamilton chapters had all visited and lent their support to the occupation.
Today’s news report notes, “Protesters had formed a blockade at the Line 9 pumping station in North Westover, about 30 kilometres northwest of Hamilton, on June 20. They oppose Enbridge’s plan to reverse the flow of oil in a stretch of pipeline from Sarnia, Ont., to Montreal to bring in oil from Alberta. The protest group, dubbed Swamp Line 9, said it fears the move could lead to a possible breach in the pipeline because it would be carrying diluted bitumen from Alberta’s oil sands, which is heavier than light oil.”
When the protest began six days ago, APTN reported, “The occupation of an Enbridge pumping station in southern Ontario is just the beginning of widespread actions against the company and the Alberta tar sands, according to a spokesperson for the protest. The protest (was) spearheaded by a group of grassroots people from the Six Nations Iroquois community near Hamilton, Ont.” Today’s Canadian Press article highlights, “The protest action is also part of the Idle No More movement. The group said the pipeline runs through First Nations territory and Enbridge didn’t consult with the community.”
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