Old wood protesters left a messy surprise on Wednesday at the door of the local election office of British Columbia Prime Minister John Horgan.
Activists threw about four bags of horse manure garbage outside the prime minister’s office in Langford, BC at 9 p.m.
At least one of the protesters also picked up some of the rubbish and threw it at the sign above the Organ office.
Save Old Growth claimed responsibility for the action, but activists left the scene when Mounties arrived shortly after 9 p.m.
Within minutes, local residents had arrived and began removing manure.
“I live on the street and I’ll put it in the garden,” neighbor Mark Peterson told CTV News.
Sophia Papp of Save Old Growth told CTV News that the organization left manure as a symbol of what it thinks of Horgan’s government priorities when it comes to logging.
The NDP government has announced postponements of deforestation of more than one million hectares of old-growth forest in recent months, but it has come to a halt before the total ban on deforestation that activists have been demanding.
“They’re still growing old,” Papp said. “This idea that they have postponed areas, well, these postponements are not permanent and they don’t really postpone areas that they would have registered otherwise.”
Papp said Wednesday’s stunt was a forerunner of new roadblocks in the province on behalf of stopping the old logging.
Save Old Growth claimed responsibility for the action, but activists left the scene when Mounties arrived shortly after 9 a.m. (CTV News)
Dozens of people have been detained since January for blocking roads around BC, in some cases super-stuck on the highway.
“As of June 13, the blockades will start again,” Papp said. “We are asking [activists] take two weeks off because they will be full-time jobs and blockages. “
RCMP RESEARCH
The West Shore RCMP says it is investigating the incident at the Organ office as a case of mourning.
Police say they are looking for five people believed to be involved, according to the surveillance video made in the building.
Anyone who recognizes the people in the following photos, or who has seen vehicles that appeared to be involved in the protest, is asked to contact the West Shore RCMP at 250-474-2264.
The West Shore RCMP is seeking to identify those involved in the protest. (West Shore RCMP)
CTV News contacted Horgan’s office for a response to the manure protest and received a statement from Public Safety Secretary Mike Farnworth stating in part:
“Peaceful protest is part of our democratic society. On the other hand, vandalizing property, preventing people from accessing services and harassing local businesses is deplorable behavior. “
Farnworth went on to express “sincere gratitude” to local residents and business owners who quickly cleaned up the dung.
“For those who use these reprehensible tactics, I can assure you that they only succeed in increasing the frustration of the local community,” the minister said.