When Occupy Vancouver moved from the Vancouver Art Gallerys city-leased north plaza to the provincial governments Robson Square Monday afternoon, Nathan Sandland erected his tent under artist Michael Banwells colourful Primary #9 steel sculpture.
It's like a game of chess, keep seven steps ahead of your opponent, Sandland told the Courier. It's public space just like any other public space.
How long will the second version of the tent village, first erected Oct. 15, remain at the complex that includes the Law Courts?
Premier Christy Clark vowed late Monday afternoon to send Attorney General lawyers to the B.C. Supreme Court Tuesday morning to get an injunction. Associate Chief Justice Anne MacKenzies Nov. 18 order applied only to the Art Gallery Lands.
Lawyers will work all night to prepare the case, Clark said on Twitter. Very disappointed to learn that the spirit of the courts ruling is being ignored.
Protester Sean OFlynn-Magee said Robson Square could be symbolic and another move is probable.
The future of the movement at this point is very much up in the air, said OFlynn-Magee. When you have a retreat, there's a chance to go very solid; there's a chance also to fall apart.
Campers chanting the status quo has got to go left VAG shortly after the 2 p.m., court-ordered deadline with backpacks and tents for the peaceful march to Robson Square, via Granville Mall. Some remained at VAG to pack items in rented trucks for storage at an undisclosed place. City workers descended on the nearly barren site, but not the riot police that protesters feared. A makeshift memorial remained for 23-year-old Ashlie Gough, whose Nov. 5 cocaine and heroin overdose death spurred Mayor Gregor Robertson to disband the camp.
Vancouver police arrested one man for assault after a 4 p.m. skirmish, prompting a sit-in protest in the intersection of Howe and Robson streets that snarled rush hour traffic.
Two tents were erected on a grassy knoll overlooking Robson Street, but the heart of the new camp is gathered around the red Alan Chung Hung Spring sculpture near the doors of the Provincial Court and Asia Pacific Business Centre. Occupy Vancouver is avoiding the subterranean level where workers are preparing the public ice rink for its Dec. 1 reopening.
People would be angry at us for preventing use of the ice rink, said communications committee member Eric Hamilton-Smith Monday morning.
The new location brings the protest camp closer to the Hornby and Smithe start for Saturday mornings Grey Cup parade.
(This story has been updated since it was first posted Nov. 21.)
