Anti-pipeline protesters block major streets in East Vancouver during afternoon rush hour

After more than a week of demonstrations tosupport Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs who opposethe CoastalGasLink pipeline, protesters blocked rush-hourtraffic Wednesday nearBroadway and Commercial Drive in Vancouver,amajor transportation hub.

They stopped traffic at four major intersections in East Vancouver over two hours.

Translink announced Wednesday it has been granted aninjunction inB.C. Supreme Court to prevent protesters from physically obstructing, interfering or impeding its SkyTrainfacilities.

Demonstrators kept the protest moving by walking northon Clark Drive to East First Avenue thenback to Commercial Drive and Broadway.

Skytrainwas not affected,but publicbuses including the 9, 20, and 99 were forced to take detours.

Transit bus user Mike Fox said he understands why people are demonstrating, but he said theyneed to realize how they are affecting the lives of people who are trying to go to work.

"It's like my commute is already over an hour each way to and from work. You know it eats up my time and it's already a tough city," said Fox.

The disruption stoppedbuses from running onBroadway between Nanaimo and Fraser streets andon Commercial between Firstand 12thavenues.

Watch: Protesters take over Broadway Street on their march to Clark Drive:

Anti-pipeline demonstrators blocked traffic along Broadway after court injunction granted to Translink

5 years ago

Duration 0:40

More than 200 protesters marched along Broadway from Commercial to Clark Drive and blocked traffic during rush hour on Wednesday to show their support for Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs against the Coastal GasLink pipeline and the Trans Mountain pipeline.

The organizers of the rally,Climate Convergence Metro Vancouver, said in a press release they organizedWednesday's demonstration in solidarity with theWet'suwet'enhereditary chiefs against the Coastal GasLink Pipeline.

They're also drawing attention to Indigenous-ledresistance to the Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion project from Alberta to Burnaby.

The Vancouver Police Department monitored the protest and diverted traffic.

Although driver Lincoln Joseph was caught up in a road closure, he voiced his support for demonstrators.

"If they don't want it, they don't want it...they don't want a pipeline unless they can prove that it's not going to be detrimental to the environment."

Similar actions across Canada

On Tuesday, supporters ofthe Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs blocked afternoon rush hour traffic for over an hour in East Vancouver.

Similar rallies have disrupted roadways and railways across the country for more than a week, as protesters show support for several hereditary chiefs opposed to the construction of the $6.6-billion Coastal GasLink pipeline through Wet'suwet'en territory in northwesternB.C.