“Dome sweet dome.”
That’s how Occupy Vancouver’s Jordan (Aleister) Malcolm described the group’s new encampment site.
Shortly after the court-ordered 2 p.m. deadline yesterday to dismantle the tent city, protesters marched through downtown streets, carrying several geodesic domes and tents from the Vancouver Art Gallery, and set up camp at Robson Square next to the Vancouver Law Courts.
“I’m very happy that we picked this spot,” Malcolm said. “It really makes the biggest statement we could make because the Supreme Court of B.C. is (the one) who ordered the injunction, condoned it, and violated human rights and freedoms. Now we’re going to be on their doorstep and bringing it to them every single day.”
Several protesters immediately began erecting tents, while others streamed back to the VAG to grab more tents and supplies.
Earlier, occupiers were loading wooden structures onto a big moving truck parked at the VAG lawn, dismantling tents and rolling up tarps that had been set up since Oct. 15.
At an early morning press conference, occupier Suresh Fernando vowed the Occupy movement will continue in a second phase, which includes “flash occupations” at SkyTrain stations, buildings and parks throughout the city.
The group will also continue to hold general assemblies every night at 7 p.m. at the art gallery, he added.
Protester Eric Hamilton-Smith also challenged the federal, provincial and municipal governments to match the services the protesters have been providing to the community.
“While we pursued our political goals we ended up housing, feeding, caring for and socializing people that the current system has failed,” Hamilton-Smith said.
He claimed the occupation has provided 1,000 meals per day, served 100 patients per day through its medical tent, and housed at least 30 homeless people as part of a “micro-community.”
Local news from metronews.ca/vancouver
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