B.C. Hydro Site C protest in Vancouver cancelled due to concerns about violence
Rally organizers say they're concerned about reaction to the recent death of a man in Dawson Creek
Organizers have cancelled a protest in Vancouver against the Site C dam because of concerns about violence, after a man was shot by RCMP at an open house for the project last week in Northeastern B.C.
James Daniel McIntyre, 48, was fatally shot by police in Dawson Creek, B.C. on Thursday evening. He was allegedly linked to the online hacker group Anonymous, prompting Anonymous members to vow to avenge the shooting.
Organizers of the Drums for the Peace River Valley rally, which was scheduled for Thursday in front of Vancouver's BC Hydro building, decided it's not safe to hold the protest so soon after the shooting.
"Everybody is very sad about the person that lost their life," said Joe Foy, national campaign director with the Wilderness Committee.
"We understand that there'll be strong feelings and just don't know who might show up or what might transpire."
Karen Tsang had planned on taking her three kids downtown for the rally, but not anymore.
She said she plans to stand up against Site C any way she can — but not at the risk of her children.
"I think it would be unsafe for them and not easy for me to leave in an expedient fashion if things seemed to be heating up or dangerous," said Tsang.
The Independent Investigations Office is currently investigating the Dawson Creek shooting.
With files from Audrey McKinnon