Six arrested at anti-poverty rally

from Canada.com

The anti-government protest began in front of APC headquarters

David Carrigg, The Province

Six Anti-Poverty Committee members were arrested last night in front of an abandoned Downtown Eastside building.

The five men and one women were arrested after a group of 30 protesters erected a makeshift structure alongside the building, at the corner of Gore and Hastings streets.

The anti-government protest began in front of APC headquarters in the 300-block Carrall Street at 2 p.m. The group then made its way east along Hastings, marching behind banners calling for the Liberal government to spend more on social housing.

Police followed the group and, once they set up in front of the building, which is owned by the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority and used for storage, told organizers the makeshift structure was illegal and would be removed.

The protesters then joined arms around the structure and demanded an end to homelessness. Following the arrests three hours later, the group moved away.

The APC has been staging anti-government protests since 2002, most recently illegally occupying an abandoned Downtown Eastside hotel and a building on Cambie Street.

Protesters also forced the cancellation of a Vancouver council meeting being held at the Vancouver Public Library.