Like so many other cities around the world, protesters here are in it for the long haul as Occupy Vancouver enters its third day.
Mark Henry, who has set up a tent outside the Vancouver Art Gallery, said he’s willing to camp out as long as possible in support of anyone living “from dollar to dollar” during the global economic crisis, which protesters attribute to corporate greed and inequality.
“If I miss one paycheque, I’m hooped. For most people, it’s like that,” said Henry yesterday.
“That’s what the 99 per cent is doing right now, suffering while (governments) raise taxes, say no to rent control and try to do things like the HST. It may be fine for people who have lots of money, but for someone on social assistance or someone that’s homeless, every penny counts.”
As many as 5,000 people took part in the demonstration in Vancouver when it peaked on Saturday. It is just one of many that are popping up across the globe in solidarity with the original, ongoing Occupy Wall Street in New York.
Several hundred people remained on site yesterday afternoon, though the scope of the crowd and activity is expected to surge again in Canadian cities as the workweek gets underway.
“(Sunday’s) going to be a major day for planning a large impact for Monday as a demonstration for (when) the stock exchange opens,” said Niko Salassidis, a 20-year-old who set up the Occupy Toronto Facebook group. “We plan to make a very large statement.”
Vancouver police say the demonstrations to date have been peaceful and there have been no major incidents.
With files from the canadian press
Local news from metronews.ca/vancouver
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