*** COURT SUPPORT FOR CLIMATE JUSTICE ORGANIZERS ***
Wednesday, July 24 & Thursday July 25
9am - 10am
Vancouver Courthouse
800 Smithe (at Hornby)
Downtown Vancouver
Local artists and Climate Convergence organizers Susan Marta Robertson-Smyth and Pia Massie were arrested on Burnaby Mountain in April 2018 for blocking the gates of Kinder Morgan's Tank Farm facility. Over 240 people have been arrested so far in this campaign of non-violent civil disobedience, which is aimed at stopping construction of the Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion.
Marta and Pia summarized their reasons for taking action:
Marta: "Contrary to the notion that by sitting at the gate we have acted in contempt of the law, I feel we have deliberately placed ourselves at the mercy of the law to ask for the protection of our rights and freedoms. For the greater good we have gambled that the court will find that the duty to stand up for the protection of the environment and survival of future generations supercedes the right of a corporation to pursue its business through illegitimate permission of the government of the day. Within a power structure steered by corrupt politicians the creation of a fully participatory local culture and the considered reflection of enlightened judges may represent the best sanity and hope that we have.""
Pia: "We are here because we love life. Because we love our children and the generations beyond them.The kids demand that we speak up and speak out, by their side, for their future.
We are here because we are heartbroken when we witness the violence and degradation towards all - the trees, the birds, the oceans.
We are here to share the grief of the orca mother whale who carried her dead child aloft for 17 days.
We are here because the world needs to understand the harm we are complicit in, when we do not change, when we think we are too busy, or that it is too late.
Please join us in a collective and conscious shift towards a future that is beneficial to all,using art and humour and direct action.
Be the change you seek in the world."
However, as expected, they were found guilty of criminal contempt of court on June 7th.
After discussions with their lawyer they have decided to take their Freedom of Expression / Freedom of Assembly / Constitutional Challenge to the next level, to the B.C. Court of Appeal, and from there to the Federal Supreme Court. This is an important case in that it challenges the ongoing injunction that is unduly hampering legitimate protest against the reapproved Transmountain expansion. For more information on how to support their legal defense: 350vancouver.org/protector-aid-court-challenge-to-the-tmx-injunction/
The next step in the struggle is supporting Pia and Marta as they face sentencing on Wednesday July 24th and Thursday 25th between 9am and 10am. Please come out to pack the court room to send a strong message that Pia and Marta are not alone, and the fight to stop the pipeline is not over!
*** THIS IS DURING A WEEK OF TRIALS FOR OTHERS WHO WERE ARRESTED ON BURNABY MOUNTAIN. PLEASE GO TO: www.facebook.com/events/557638714640438/ FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ATTENDING THESE TRIALS, WHICH ALL START AT 10AM ***
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
This event takes place on the traditional, unceded, occupied territories of the səlil̓wətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Nations.
Climate Convergence | www.climateconvergence.ca | climateconvergence604@gmail.com | @climate604 | 778-889-7664 ...
