TransLink granted injunction to prevent protesters on SkyTrain property

Feb 20 2020, 12:42 am

After announcing earlier today that it was seeking an injunction to prevent protesters from physically obstructing its SkyTrain facilities during a planned demonstration at the intersection of Commercial and Broadway this afternoon, TransLink announced just after 4 pm that it had been granted the injunction.

“TransLink has been granted an injunction to prevent protesters from physically obstructing, interfering, or otherwise impeding its SkyTrain facilities,” a spokesperson said in an email. “While TransLink supports the right to peaceful protest, the safety of our customers and our staff is our priority and we must protect the hundreds of thousands of people who rely on the Expo, Millennium, and Canada Lines.”

This injunction applies only to SkyTrain facilities, including the Commercial-Broadway SkyTrain Station, near where the protest is planned to begin at 5 pm.

“Bus customers should be aware the injunction will not prevent protests at the intersection itself and they should be prepared for bus detours and delays,” said TransLink.

Up-to-date information is available on TransLink’s website.

In a release, the group behind the planned protest, Climate Convergence Metro Vancouver, says the demonstration is being organized to “mobilize against […] two Indigenous rights and climate killing pipeline mega-projects – the Trans Mountain expansion pipeline and the Coastal GasLink pipeline.”

“Let’s join coast to coast protest against occupation of Wet’suwet’en by RCMP and keep building the climate justice movement!” reads the statement.

Solidarity rallies held in Metro Vancouver in recent days have blocked major arterial roads, bridges, and railways, severely disrupting road traffic, public transit services, and freight traffic.

Event organizers say their goal is to continue “mass action and campaigns uniting as many groups and communities as possible to stop the pipelines.”

The protest is scheduled to begin at 5 pm Wednesday.

Eric ZimmerEric Zimmer

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