[van-announce] URGENT!!! Woodwards Support Needed at Courthouse

[megan]

For Immediate Release
Anti-Poverty Committee

September 21st, 2002

APC Denounces the Forcible and Brutal Eviction of the Woodwards Squat

At 6 am Saturday morning, the police forcibly evicted and arrested the 
squatters from their home in the Woodwards building.  The police used pepper 
spray as well as arresting some people as they were trying to leave 
peacefully.  Of the approximatly 60 arrested, two are pregnant women and 
others have medical conditions which may require immediate attention. 

Since last Saturday, September 14th, thousands of people, including federal, 
provincial and civic politicians, the BC Federation of Labour, the Vancouver 
District Labour Council, Canadian Federation of Students, and residents of 
the Downtown Eastside and Vancouver, have been rallying around the vacant 
Woodwards building. 

The Woodwards squatters demand that the Woodwards building be developed into 
social housing immediately and that any information regarding the proposed 
sale and development be made with public consultation.  Decent and dignified 
housing must be given to all the homeless squatters asked to leave the 
building.

The Anti-Poverty Committee denounces the police attack on the squatters and 
the government that would arrest and evict the homeless rather than deal with 
a massive housing crisis in BC.  Gordon Campbell’s response to the situation 
is shamefully inadequate and does not provide a solution to this crisis.

We demand that the squatters be immediately released without charge.  A 
hearing is being held at the Courthouse at Robson Square (800 Hornby) at 
9:30am this morning.  We call on all supporters to come down and demand the 
safe release of all those arrested.


For more information contact:
Kara (604) 725-8415


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