It was a nervous scene on a portion at the intersection of Victoria Rd. and the Trans-Canada Highway on Jan. 14, as old-growth logging protesters, blocked the area.
Roughly 30 activists, most of whom were in their 20’s, intermittently blocked the Trans-Canada Highway at the lights just past the Revelstoke Suspension Bridge.
The group was met with a mixed response, as some motorists honked their horns to show their support, while others shouted from their cars, threw snowballs, and one person even set off a flare gun while driving by to try and ward off the protesters.
The Revelstoke RCMP was notified of the event before it happened. The police put a stop to the protest before any arrests were made.
The activists held signs promoting their cause, including one sign that prompted people to call the Ministry of Forests with their frustrations.
According to one activist, they were standing in solidarity with the Save Old Growth movement, and plan to continue these actions until their demands are met.
The activist said that the group is at a point where protests, rallies, and petitions aren’t working, so they’ve turned to civil disobedience in order to get their point across.
They added that the protests are not anti-logging or anti-jobs, they only hope to protect the province’s old-growth forests and ecosystems.
This protest was associated with Extinction Rebellion protesters who have pledged to disrupt traffic on the Trans -Canada Highway in B.C. starting Jan. 10.
READ MORE: Activists pledge to block Trans Canada Highway off-ramps to protest old-growth logging
“We are declaring the Trans-Canada Highway a site of permanent nonviolent civil resistance. January 10 onwards, the tactics will escalate in their frequency and extent if the government delays action,” said Zain Haq, a spokesperson and organizer for the province-wide campaign, and a student at Simon Fraser University. Haq is also the national action and strategy coordinator for Extinction Rebellion, a group that has previously blocked intersections in Vancouver and other cities, and most recently blocked the road into the Vancouver International Airport.
The Revelstoke RCMP watched on as the protesters left the scene to ward off any retaliation from the roughly seven angry onlookers across the street, one of which was already shouting and throwing snowballs.
The Revelstoke Review has contacted the Ministry of Forests for a comment on the ongoing situation. They have not responded by the time of publication.
READ MORE: Contractors pulled after Old Growth Revylution blocks Akolkolex Forest Service Road
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