More rallies being planned, as northern B.C. First Nation fears further RCMP action

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – It could be another dramatic day on a northern B.C. First Nation, with word the RCMP are preparing the move in on a second protest camp, which is trying to deny access to pipeline workers.

On Wednesday morning, the Wet’suwet’en First Nation claimed the RCMP were “on the move again” toward the Unist’ot’en camp

On Monday, RCMP arrested 14 opponents of the Coastal Gaslink project. The arrests of the protesters happened at the checkpoint at the Gidimt’en camp near Houston. Video posted to social media showed officers climbing over a blockade and scuffling with demonstrators.

WATCH: RCMP attend anti-pipeline protest

It’s unclear when or how the RCMP could enforce the injunction at the Unist’ot’en camp.

Hundreds of people wound their way through the streets of Vancouver, in solidarity with the Wet’suwet’en people on Tuesday. It was one of dozens of demonstrations taking place across the country.

Activists are hoping to see the same thing today, although the details of the Vancouver event are still being worked out.

WATCH: Pipeline protests across Canada

As of Wednesday morning, a GoFundMe page to raise funds to get supplies to the demonstrators at the checkpoints, as well as help pay for any legal fees, had raised over $135,000.

The prime minister is also in B.C. today. He will be in Kamloops for a townhall meeting.

Back in February Trudeau had to speak over jeers of “shame” at an event in Nanaimo.

He was repeatedly interupted by pipeline opponents and showed his frustration by exclaiming: “Come on! Come on! Really?” He then asked those who were disrupting the event to leave. Police later physically removed them.

Meanwhile, the head of the company behind the LNG pipeline has penned an open letter. In it, Coastal GasLink president Rick Gateman says the Monday clash and the arrest demonstrators wasn’t what the company wanted to happen.

RELATED: Multiple anti-LNG pipeline demonstrators arrested in northern B.C.

He claims Coastal GasLink has pushed for open discussions with local First Nations.

“The outcome of the impasse at the Morice Bridge River crossing is not one we wanted. Instead, we have always strived to have an open, honest conversation about how to resolve this issue. It’s unfortunate that RCMP were forced to take this action to ensure the re-establishment of lawful access to this public bridge and road that leads to our pipeline right of way.”

Gateman says the company took legal action as “a last resort.”

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