Update on February 15: Bill Winder was sentenced to 21 days in prison.
One hundred people gathered outside the BC Supreme Court to show support for former UBC Professor William Winder and other protestors on February 14.
Last fall, the Brunette River 6, a group of protestors that includes the recently-retired Winder, were arrested and charged with criminal contempt for breaching the Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion injunction. Winder is facing 14–28 days in prison.
This injunction was granted in 2018 for an indefinite period of time and prevents protestors from obstructing the expansion of the Trans Mountain pipeline. It stipulates that people are prohibited from entering within five metres of the two work sites.
Winder spent nine days during September 2021 suspended 60 feet in the air in a hammock directly obstructing the path of tree cutters. In an interview with The Ubyssey, he explained that his commitment to the climate crisis was fuelled by the catastrophic 2021 summer heat wave.
“We had 600 deaths associated with the heat dome. Two seniors burned to death in Lytton. A billion sea creatures were destroyed during the heat dome. Vancouver had the worst air quality in the world.”
“There's a certain responsibility to do what I can and that means, in this case, getting arrested.”
In 2014, Winder attended his first climate protest at Burnaby Mountain regarding an oil depot expansion. At the time, he was reluctant to be arrested. However, after years of protesting, writing petitions, and rallying for change, he had run out of ideas. This led him straight to the Trans Mountain Expansion site. There, he was no longer afraid of arrest.
Since the injunction was granted last fall, over 240 people have been arrested for criminal contempt.
“Going to prison is the easy part,” said Zain Haq, a member of the Brunette River 6, who will also be sentenced on February 15. Haq believes that the difficult part will be continuing the fight for a livable climate in spite of all the obstacles to come.
Jim Leyden, an Elder for the Watch House, attended the rally to welcome people to the land on behalf of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation.
“Our concern as Indigenous people is that [oil] spills are inevitable. Spills on the land ruin the water that everyone drinks. Spills in the ocean wipe the beaches and kill the salmon. The Salish needs to be left alone,” Leyden told The Ubyssey. Leyden himself has already served time for protesting against the Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion and stood in solidarity with the Brunette River 6 today.
Catherine Hembling, a member of the Brunette River 6 and an environmental health scientist, approached the crowd as ralliers sang her “Happy Birthday.” She will likely be spending her 80th birthday in jail.
“I am here with solidarity and I am here with love. We want our children to thrive, not just survive and that’s why I’m here, and I’m not giving up.”
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