Burnaby Trans Mountain worker 'knocked unconscious' amid tree-sit protest: police
Two people were arrested and one worker was injured Friday as Burnaby RCMP attempted to clear more protesters from a Trans Mountain site, said police.
The first demonstrator was arrested around 9:30 a.m. after trespassing into a fenced area on private property owned by BNSF Railway, in violation of a court ordered injunction stating they could not obstruct, impede, or otherwise prevent access to Trans Mountain work sites.
Around noon, Burnaby RCMP officers returned to the area, located west of North Road and south of Highway 1, responding to reports that a Trans Mountain worker had been injured after being struck on the head by a branch near an occupied tree-sit.
“The worker was knocked unconscious and has been taken to hospital for treatment of his injuries, including a possible concussion,” said police in a news release. “It appears the branch fell on the worker while the protester was repelling between tree-sits.”
RCMP officers trained in high-angle rescue were called to the area. The demonstrator from the tree-sit safely came down on his own around 3:20 p.m.
The demonstrator was arrested at the scene. The incident remains under investigation, police said.
Protesters have been occupied trees in this forested area along the Brunette River for more than a year as Trans Mountain looks to cut more than 1,300 trees.
Zain Haq, 20, who was arrested, said in a news release: “The future of life on this planet is at stake. We must put a moratorium on all new fossil fuel infrastructure … This twinned pipeline poses tremendous risk locally, and globally once the product is burned. The consequences of inaction are catastrophic. As a young person, I am motivated to do whatever I can to dampen the horrors of the not-so-distant future: mass starvation, breakdown of ecosystems, mass extinction, etc.”
Two arrested in separate incidents at Trans Mountain protest in Burnaby Friday
Trans Mountain worker struck by branch during tree-sit, sent to hospital with possible concussion
Two demonstrators were arrested in Burnaby on Friday during separate incidents at a Trans Mountain work site, one of which sent a Trans Mountain worker to hospital.
According to Burnaby RCMP, the first person was arrested at 9:30 a.m., after trespassing onto private property owned by BNSF Railway. This was in violation of a court-ordered injunction stating demonstrators could not obstruct or impede access to Trans Mountain work sites.
RCMP were called back to the area at noon, after receiving reports that a Trans Mountain worker had been struck on the head by a branch near an occupied tree-sit. The worker had been knocked unconscious and was taken to hospital to be treated for a possible concussion.
Police say the branch fell on the worker while a protester was rapelling between tree-sits.
Officers trained in high-angle rescue were called to the area, and the protester came down on his own at 3:20 p.m.
The protester was then arrested. Police are still investigating.
Protesters have been engaged in a tree-sit in a conservation area along the Brunette River since Aug. 3, 2020, with the goal of blocking construction on the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion. The blockade remains as of today, and several nearby tree-sits have been established.
RCMP carry away elderly TMX protester in Burnaby
Elderly protester carried off
Another person was arrested Thursday as police continue to clear out people occupying trees in Burnaby to protest the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project.
The demonstrator had trespassed into a fenced area on private property owned by BNSF Railway, in violation of a court injunction stating they could not obstruct, impede, or otherwise prevent access to Trans Mountain work sites.
Video showed one person being carried away by police on Thursday.
“The demonstrator was given the opportunity to leave the area voluntarily, but chose not to,” said police. She was safely arrested just before 10 a.m.
“Burnaby RCMP would like to take this moment to remind those who are involved in ongoing demonstrations that police are an impartial party and are there to ensure the safety of everyone involved,” said a police news release.
Earlier in the week, a person occupying one of the trees in Burnaby was arrested. Police in tactical gear are using a lift bucket machine to reach protesters in the trees.
On Friday morning, the group Protect the Planet – Stop TMX said two people had “locked themselves down to the ground” at the tree-occupation site, located west of North Road and south of Highway 1 in Burnaby.
“This is a tactic also used at Fairy Creek, known as a soft block,” said a news release from the group, adding that they expect more people to be arrested today.
The aim is to prevent Trans Mountain workers from cutting the trees. The project will see more than 1,300 trees cut down in the area.
SFU Burnaby students to launch Trans Mountain protest march as arrests continue
A group of SFU students and faculty have pledged to march from the Burnaby Mountain campus down the hill to protest the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project.
People are invited to gather at 4:30 p.m. at the UniverCity Town Square to hear speakers, followed by the march at 5 p.m. that will end up at the intersection of Gaglardi Way and University Drive.
As organizer and SFU student Hanieh Shakeri explained, “We are organizing this march to bring attention to the dangers of the TMX pipeline, and especially the unsafe situation that SFU students have been placed in by the presence of the tank farm so close to our campus. We hope that SFU will show their commitment to student safety by putting pressure on the government to halt the TMX pipeline project.”
The march comes as at least two people have been arrested this week in Burnaby for protests at the site where more than 1,300 trees are to be cut down to make way for the pipeline.
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