Protest lessons attract 100 over highway plan

About 100 people turned up in Cornwall, P.E.I. Wednesday night to discuss strategies for non-violent protest.

'They're ready to take action which may not be typified by the "Gentle Island."' — Peter Bevan-Baker

The meeting was organized by opponents of the Trans-Canada Highway reconstruction project in Bonshaw. Sociologist Wilma van der Veen from St. Mary's University in Halifax was the speaker.

One of those in attendance was Peter Bevan-Baker, who is currently running for the leadership of the P.E.I. Green Party.

"I sensed the mood of the room is that this may be a tipping point," said Bevan-Baker.

"I think people are extremely disillusioned with the way our government is behaving and they're ready to take action which may not be typified by the 'Gentle Island.'"

Bevan-Baker said there was no discussion of actual tactics to continue his group's campaign to convince government to scrap the project.

A follow-up meeting has been scheduled for this Saturday.

For mobile device users: What do you expect to come out of these protest lessons for opponents of the Trans-Canada Highway project at Bonshaw?