“This time we are trying to make sure it is a permanent occupation of the freeway, something unprecedented,” said Save Old Growth spokesman Zain Haq. and the next day in larger numbers until there is a critical mass that can not be easily removed. “ A group opposed to Save Old Growth’s tactics called Clear the Road says protesters are effectively holding hostage-takers. “I’m very concerned that their actions are just going to escalate and escalate to a point that is even more dangerous for commuters and the RCMP,” said Clear the Road organizer Tamara Meggit. Claiming that there must be consequences for roadblocks and the suffering of tens of thousands of passengers, Clear the Road plans to launch a class action lawsuit against Save Old Growth. “So, whoever has been affected by these (protests), whoever has lost shifts at work or something similar, tell us your story. “We are looking to document and a class action will be in discussions with law firms,” said Meggit. Huck says the threat of legal action will not deter the protesters. “They can do their worst, because we are not going anywhere. “We welcome whatever people want to do to us, because we do not do it for ourselves or for our selfishness, we do it because we are in an existential emergency,” Huck said. “We feel we have to do this to cause enough financial upheaval that the government has to agree to demand.” He says members of the group are not only willing to be arrested, but actually save Save Old Growth if handcuffed. “People see people being arrested and that evokes sympathy. “Even if people are really upset with us, they respect the fact that we are willing to suffer for our beliefs.” Because the threat of arrest is not a deterrent, Megit says the protesters must pocket the protesters and their financial backers. “If there are no consequences for their actions and it is not their money, why not continue to create chaos?” said Maggie. “Once funded, this is one way to do it. “Following them on a personal level, this is something that will follow them for years.” Meggit, who is a member of a forest family, also plans to go to protest sites to help chased drivers. “I will be there to offer drinks and snacks for travelers and a blanket for privacy to those who need to pee on the side of the road and do what we can,” he said. Save Old Growth will not reveal the locations of the planned protest sites, saying only that “there will be extreme holidays around Metro Vancouver” from Monday.
