North Van RCMP says hateful highway protests a ‘complex’ issue

Despite a court injunction, protesters continue to return to the Mountain Highway overpass on Highway 1 in North Vancouver week after week.

The RCMP says this has been happening for several months, with demonstrators gathering with signs and banners, many of them targeting the 2SLGBTQ+ community.

“The greater public has responded to these protests over the past few weeks, both in person and online, to make clear the fact that they do not align with the values of the community as a whole. North Vancouver RCMP shares the community’s concerns,” a release from Mounties Wednesday reads, in part.

The North Vancouver RCMP says the “sentiments behind the Mountain Highway protests” don’t align with its core values, adding it remains “resolved to protect and uphold the rights of Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and additional sexually and gender diverse (2SLGBTQ+) people in the communities we serve.”

Related article: North Vancouver councillor calls on RCMP to enforce removal of hateful highway banners

The statement from the force comes as many continue to demand more action from officers. However, Const. Mansoor Sahak says it’s not as simple as going in and arresting the individuals involved.

“It’s a complex assessment but, ultimately, we have to uphold the integrity of the judicial process, maintain public confidence in the criminal justice system, and we’re in ongoing communications with the Ministry of Transportation to enforce the injunction. That is our ultimate goal. But obviously, we want people and we want the protesters to peacefully abide by the injunction,” he told CityNews.

“There’s a number of things at play here and it’s a big operation and there’s some planning that needs to be made and some logistics to be met before we can take such a big task.”

Injunction issued May 11

The Ministry of Transportation obtained an injunction on May 11 prohibiting anyone from “[affixing] anything to, or [hanging] or [displaying] anything from, or over any structure including the Overpass.” It also prohibits anyone from congregating, gathering, occupying or using the area, as well as prevents people from intentionally obstructing, impeding, disrupting, interfering with pedestrian or vehicle traffic.

In addition to the overpass, the injunction also covers “the area within 250 metres” of it “in either direction along the Trans-Canada Highway.”

However, in recent weeks, Sahak says some of the protesters have moved to other overpasses along Highway 1. He notes the injunction does not cover those bridges.

Sahak tells CityNews the RCMP “understands the community’s concern,” adding the department “shares that concern.”

“Our community in North Van, we’re tight-knit, and it does not belong here,” he said of the intolerance portrayed in many of the protesters’ messages.

“We strive and we make efforts to reach out to the community and we understand their frustration and their concerns,” Sahak added of the 2SLGBTQ+ community. “We share their concerns and we understand that. We’re doing everything we can on our end to put an end to this to enforce the injunction.”

Sahak would not say what exactly the RCMP is doing to ensure the protests stop. However, he says there is a process that cannot be rushed.

In recent weeks, many, including District of North Vancouver councillors, have called for the RCMP to take more affirmative action.

“I think it’s time for the RCMP to step in. There’s an injunction that prevents them from having banners hanging over highway overpasses anywhere in B.C. — we saw a clear violation of that this week,” Coun. Catherine Pope said.

“Their messages are filled with hate. They’re clearly directed at the LGBTQ+ community.”

“Free speech is one thing, but these hateful messages and (sic) BS have no place in our community. They are extremely offensive and put the safety of people I care about at risk. Enough already,” a tweet from Coun. Jordan Back reads.

Free speech is one thing, but these hateful messages and BS have no place in our community. They are extremely offensive and put the safety of people I care about at risk. Enough already. Where is the @nvanrcmp @TranBC? #NorthVan pic.twitter.com/2xGHM2yrDp

— Jordan Back (@jordanback) June 16, 2023

According to Sahak, so far, no one has been arrested for breach of the injunction. He says one person was recently arrested “for mischief” after he was trying to cut down one of the signs. He was not part of the protest, Sahak says, adding the man was released shortly after the arrest.

North Shore protests

The North Shore is no stranger to disruptive protests. There have been several instances in the past few years where environmental activists have blocked Highway 1 in protest of old-growth forest logging.

In many of these cases, arrests were made. When asked about the differences between these demonstrations and what has been taking place on the Mountain Highway overpass, Sahak said there are key distinctions.

“In regards to … the protests blocking the highways, that’s critical infrastructure that they’re blocking, so goods and services can’t be moved if they’re blocking a major highway that connects the North Shore to the rest of the Lower Mainland. So it’s a little bit of a different situation. In that case, we won’t need an injunction, it would be that they’re committing a criminal offence and we would have to make an arrest,” he explained.

The court injunction in place for the Mountain Highway overpass is a civil matter, Sahak adds.

In a previous statement to CityNews, the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure said “enforcement of the court order is the responsibility of the police.”

“The banners appearing on the overpass are hateful and raise a serious safety issue for people who use the highway…The hanging of banners from any highway overpass is not allowed under the Transportation Act,” the statement added.

-With files from Kier Junos