Pipeline demonstrators planning rail blockade in Vancouver this afternoon

Protesters demonstrating against the Trans Mountain Expansion Pipeline will be setting up a blockade in Vancouver on Monday afternoon.

Extinction Rebellion has announced plans for a “non-violent and peaceful” rail blockade at Renfrew Street and Grandview Highway, near East Vancouver’s Renfrew Skytrain Station.

Extinction Rebellion Vancouver says in an email that they “aim to pressure the Trudeau government to cancel the Trans Mountain Expansion Pipeline.”

“The government is not taking the necessary measures to protect Canadians from the climate crisis,” says spokesperson Zain Haq. “Instead, it is pushing ahead with this pipeline which will exponentially increase production in the tar sands.”

“So we are choosing to do civil disobedience because we’re responding to the government breaking the social contract.”

The group says on a Facebook post that railway blockades “result in enormous economic damage to the state, which has failed to listen to the people in any other way.” Attendees have also been instructed to bring a mask if they choose to demonstrate.

• See also: 
  • Wet’suwet’en solidarity rail blockades continue in Vancouver
  • Wet’suwet’en demonstrations to continue alongside Women’s Memorial March
  • Wet’suwet’en solidarity demonstrations continue in Kitsilano and at UBC

Earlier this year, Wet’suwet’en solidarity demonstrators occupied the same set of train tracks in support of hereditary chiefs who are fighting the Coastal GasLink pipeline in Northern BC.

Monday’s demonstration is scheduled for 4 pm and will likely cause heavy delays for drivers and commuters.