Two of Victoria’s main bridges have reopened after a coalition of grassroots demonstrators blocked access to both the Bay Street and Johnson Street bridge Monday evening.
Both the Johnson Street & Bay Street Bridges are being blocked by protesters. #yyjtraffic is disrupted. #yyj
— Victoria Police (@vicpdcanada) February 11, 2020
The group moved from a rally at the BC Legislature building Monday afternoon to both bridges, blocking access in time for evening rush hour. The group blocked off the Johnson Street Bridge from about 4 to 7 p.m. and had the Bay Street Bridge closed for about two hours.
The Victoria Police Department tweeted that they were working to “resolve the situation peacefully.”
The protesters were demonstrating in opposition of RCMP’s actions on Wet’suwet’en territory, as well as the construction of the Coastal GasLink pipeline, which is opposed by the First Nation’s hereditary chiefs.
About 30 Indigenous youth have been occupying the BC Legislature steps since Thursday – organizers from that group say the bridge-blocking movement was a separate initiative in support of the same cause.
READ ALSO: Demonstrators settle in ‘for the long haul’ at BC Legislature, RBC bank
More to come.
Johnson St Bridge in Victoria right now #wetsuwetenstrong pic.twitter.com/mOApN6ZlCE
— PATRI€€IO (@PatriccioCCL) February 11, 2020