Solidarity in Caledonia

(Update)

The Highway 6 bypass in Caledonia has been open for almost four hours after a group from Six Nations blocked the road Thursday afternoon and into the evening rush. It was in reaction to a day of violent clashes between police and First Nations people in New Brunswick. Sean Leathong has the story.

As police in New Brunswick remove a blockade, another is created in Caledonia.

Protester Lester Green: “We’re sick and tired of letting the government come in and push our people around.”

It began around 3pm. Between 40 and 50 members of Six Nations blocked Highway 6 at 5th Line, acting in solidarity with the New Brunswick First Nation group, who have been blocking Route 134 since September.

They’ve been protesting a shale gas development by blocking a road near Rexton, about 80 kilometres north of Moncton.

And Thursday, the RCMP began enforcing a court ordered injunction. That lead to a clash, in which protesters were pepper sprayed and RCMP vehicles were set on fire. At least 40 people were arrested. One of them is Elsipogtog Chief Arren Sock soon after the blockade went up in Caledonia, but protesters say there won’t be the same clashes here: “Supporting them here in anyway we can. So it’s all a good thing and it’s peaceful.”

As the blockade went up on Highway 6, OPP closed the Caledonia bypass as a precaution, re-routing traffic through the town.

And as the protesters say they are in solidarity with those out east, they also say that they will be here for as long as they have to be.”

Lester: “We’ve had contact from the people actually there on the site right now telling us that things are starting to quiet down a little bit. So we’re ready to stay here for as long as it takes to get that point across.”

Upon word of the situation quieting down in New Brunswick, Highway 6 cleared just after 7pm.

While the protesters have gone home for the night, they have informed me that they could return to Highway 6 Friday, it all depends on what happens in New Brunswick.