Protesters and counter-protesters met in Saskatoon Saturday afternoon at the train crossing of 20th Street and Avenue J south.
A group in support of the Wet’suwet’en people gathered at the railway to protest, while choosing not to blockade the tracks. Saskatoon Police were on scene to keep the peace and keep people away from the railway.
One of the protesters, Erica Violet Lee spoke on the reason the group was there.
“We have been saying over and over again that this is a peaceful protest, this is a peaceful action, we are doing it for our children, for future generations, for the land and the water, in solidarity with We’suwet’en people.”
Meanwhile a group had gathered at city hall as a counter protest to the railway blockades. Mark Friesen says the counter-protest was about the whole country.
“It’s about uniting for prosperity, our industries, and the driver. Everyone wants to protest and claim they need more this and they need more that. We have to be able to afford those programs. The only way we’re going to be able to afford that is with a healthy economy where everyone can prosper.”
The counter-protesters got word of what was happening and decided to go the 20th Street location to get answers.
The two groups stood on opposite side of the tracks while Saskatoon Police monitored the situation.
Protesters fight Scheer on blockade comments
The Regina headquarters of Conservative Party Leader Andrew Scheer was the location of the latest protests regarding the rail blockades.
Dozens of protesters voiced their displeasure over comments made by Scheer on February 14th telling protesters to “check their privilege”.
In the statement, Scheer said “These protesters, these activists have the luxury of spending days at a time at a blockade, but they need to check their privilege.”
“They need to check their privilege and let people whose jobs depend on the railway system- small businesses, farmers- do their jobs,” Scheer added.
Some protesters found Scheer’s comments to be somewhat racist, due to the hardships that Indigenous people have dealt with for generations. Many Indigenous communities lack basic services.
Saturday’s protest was the third time in as many weeks that supporters of the Wet’suwet’en Nation have rallied in the Queen City.
(CJWW with files from Josh Sigurdson)
