You know what really motivates me to support a cause? When you block rush-hour traffic and delay my getting home.
It makes me ready to jump out of my car and pick up a sign, and well …
I hope the sarcasm is coming through.
These are, however, the tactics taken by supporters of the Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs across Canada on Monday — including blocking a high-volume passenger train between Toronto and Montreal. (I thought environmentalists wanted to encourage mass transit?)
In Winnipeg, according to a press release, they moved “to disrupt traffic in an act of peaceful, powerful solidarity,” at Portage and Edmonton, the second time in a week they have held this type of demonstration.
A woman with a bullhorn and a feather addresses protestors gathered at Portage and Main in Winnipeg for solidarity action with the Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs and peoples in their land dispute, on Monday. Kevin King/Winnipeg Sun/Postmedia Network
What exactly is this going to accomplish except anger thousands of people across the country?
One of the axioms from the Simpsons I live by is “You don’t win friends with salad.” Taken from the classic season-seven episode “Lisa the Vegetarian,” it features Lisa Simpson trying to force her divisive vegetarian life on her family while Homer hosts a barbecue — or for show accuracy a BBBQ. Her campaign inspires a counter protest in the form of a conga line, turning the above phrase. In the end, all she did was drive a wedge between her and her father, while ruining his barbecue. It wasn’t until they stepped out of their echo chamber that they found a common ground.
Even the Wet’suwet’en people in B.C. are not all on the same page. Their elected chiefs have approved of the coastal Gas Link natural gas pipeline that crosses their territory, part of the $40-billion LNG Canada liquefied natural gas export terminal project from Dawson Creek to Kitimat.
Though it is interesting to note the different groups that are joining the protest include various local environmental groups, Aboriginal Youth Opportunities, and for some reason Winnipeg Police Cause Harm, and the Venezuela Peace Committee.
But let’s get beyond the politics of it all.
Protestors take part in a round dance at Portage and Main in Winnipeg as solidarity action with the Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs and peoples in their land dispute, on Monday. Kevin King/Winnipeg Sun/Postmedia Network
According to the City, no permit was given for this protest, and further to that point, a city spokesperson said in an email “we wouldn’t typically issue one for this.”
City bylaws prohibit parade permits (which this would be classified as) being issued for any event occurring during either of the rush-hour periods (7-9 a.m., or 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., Monday-Friday).
But, according to the Winnipeg Police Service earlier on Monday, they would be allowed to proceed, though they would still make sure there is some traffic movement.
“It’s a planned protest so we would recommend for people to avoid the area, you’re just going to get tied up in traffic,” said information officer Cst. Brian Wurm.
It makes no sense, unless the WPS is trying to save some kind of political correctness face.
This should not have been allowed to proceed.
Protestors march down Portage Avenue toward Main Street for solidarity action with the Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs and peoples in their land dispute, on Monday. Kevin King/Winnipeg Sun/Postmedia Network
I am all for a group’s charter rights to peaceful assembly. If they want to demonstrate and protest on the sidewalks or in the City Hall court yard or on the Manitoba Legislature grounds, fill y’er boots. I am encouraged in the democratic process by those who feel passionate enough about an issue to form a picket line.
But blocking rush hour traffic on one of Winnipeg’s most congested routes is neither peaceful or effective, despite the best wishes of protest media coordinator Josiah Neufeld from the Manitoba Energy Justice Coalition.
“That might be the case, but other people will be empathetic,” said Neufeld. “Sure there’s some disruption, there’s some discomfort involved, I don’t think waiting a few extra minutes in traffic compares to the discomfort the Wet’suwet’en people are feeling as they are displaced from their land.”
A Manitoba Public Insurance report in October highlighted a road rage problem in Winnipeg. Often the gestures and outbursts come from a single act of being cut off or not being able to merge. Try holding a few hundred tired, angry drivers from getting home for an extra half hour to 45 minutes.
I can guarantee the vast majority of them will not care about the cause and instead will be ever-more emboldened against the movement.
All they’re doing is ruining the barbecue for the neighbourhood, instead of finding a middle ground with those who can actually do something.
jaldrich@postmedia.com
Twitter: @JoshAldrich03
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ALDRICH: Blocking traffic a tactic sure to backfire on protestors - Winnipeg Sun
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