The activist occupation of a vacant building slated for demolition on Imperial Street has come to a peaceful end.
On Wednesday morning, Burnaby RCMP, with help from an emergency response team, swooped in and removed seven protesters from the building at 5025 Imperial St.
In all, three people were taken into custody, while the others were released at the scene.
Natalie Knight, a member of Alliance Against Displacement, the group occupying the building, was one of three taken to the RCMP detachment.
She said the group was sleeping when they heard the cops come into the building at about 5 a.m.
Knight said she left the room and attempted to get outside but was eventually arrested by police.
“When I opened the door, they were pumped up, but as soon as they noticed we weren’t resisting or being violent they kind of calmed down,” she told the NOW, adding there were about 20 to 25 police at the scene.
Members of Alliance Against Displacement began occupying the building on July 9 and have vowed to stay until they were forcibly removed.
The occupation is part of an ongoing battle between housing advocates and city hall over the issue of “demovictions.” The group has demanded the city put a moratorium on all demolitions of older rental buildings in the Metrotown area.
Last week, the B.C. Supreme Court granted Amacon, the developer that owns the building, an injunction that allowed police to remove the protesters from the building immediately.
Knight and the other two protestors arrested will not be facing any charges after agreeing to stay away from the buildings owned by Amacon.
An RCMP press release noted if the protestors fail to obey the court injunction they would be back in court facing contempt charges.
But the group vows to continue their fight against the city. Alliance Against Displacement has organized a rally near the building for Saturday at 2 p.m.
The group is also calling for people who face future evictions to refuse to leave.
“This isn’t a defeat,” Knight said, noting the group has received support from the community over their actions. “To be arrested or evicted from this building, it’s a success in a way.”
Meanwhile, residents in the area continue to speak up in support the efforts of protesters and against the city and mayor.
Sadie Morris, a resident who lives near Metrotown, said she is outraged watching the demolitions in the neighbourhood.
She’s lived in the area for four years with her daughter and now fears she’ll have to move before her daughter graduates from college.
“I think it’s time we wake up and see the social needs at our doorstep,” Morris said. “I have nowhere to go from here. I never, ever thought that I would have to fight for my daughter’s safety and her home so she can just live a life.”
Sherry Chen, another resident who has already been evicted from one apartment, said new immigrants like herself can’t afford the new condos replacing the older units.
“We work here. We need a secure safe space to live here,” she said, suggesting city council doesn’t want to talk to residents.
