13 people charged after pro-Palestinian protest shut down East Vancouver railway
Posted August 13, 2024 3:26 pm.
Vancouver police say 13 people have been charged with mischief after a railway was blocked in May as part of a pro-Palestinian protest.
About 100 people gathered around 12:30 p.m. on May 31, standing on the tracks near Kaslo Street and East 12th Avenue, just north of Grandview Highway.
Protesters told CityNews that they were occupying the railway due to Israel’s actions in Gaza.
Police gave the protesters a deadline of 2 p.m. to move off the tracks, or else they would forcibly remove them.
Vancouver Police Department officers could be seen yelling “move back” to protesters, and those who didn’t comply were arrested at the scene.
The protest dispersed around 2:30 p.m.
In an update that afternoon, the VPD said 14 people were arrested during the protest for “mischief and obstruction.” Now, police say charges have been approved for 13 people, all of whom are adults.
The protesters are set to appear in court on Sept. 9. In May, protesters at the railway said they would continue interrupting essential infrastructure until the war in Gaza ends.
—With files from Charlie Carey and Cole Schisler
