Vancouver Police Ignore Anarchists With Flaming Torches, Anarchists Burn Down House…

The Vancouver Police Department just let them roam with torches...

The Vancouver Police Department just let them roam unhindered with lit torches…

Two weeks ago, during Vancouver’s May Day march, a group of anarchists marched down the street with flaming torches. The anarchists were carrying signs saying things like “Rich Scum Beware, CLASS WAR” and “Mayday Means Attack”. One anarchist vandalized the sidewalk writing ACAB (All Cops Are Bastards). The only action the police took that day was to surround the controversial Pidgin restaurant to keep the protesters away from it. No action was taken to deal with the lit torches.

I my article about May Day I warned that Vancouverites should take these threats seriously. The city’s anarchists have been gradually getting out of control- and, unlike Toronto’s reaction prosecuting the criminals behind the G20, Vancouver anarchists have not seen any real consequences for their actions. Now, the anarchists have proved my prediction to be correct…

Last night a house was set on fire at an East Vancouver construction site. A group called the anti-gentrification front claimed responsibility on the Anarchist News website with the following statement:

“Last night we burned down a yuppie development on 1st ave near Victoria. We are tired of seeing our lives and memories being torn down one development at a time. We wish and will create fear for developers in East Vancouver. The class war is heating up. We have no intention on stopping. If we, if you, allow this continue you will be pushed out of East Vancouver due to rising rent and gentrification. If you are the cause of gentrification you should never feel safe”

According to one of the neighbours the previous house on the lot was being used as an illegal squat- it appears this is the anarchist’s sick form of revenge for losing their space. Another neighbour who lives right next door said they were terrified, East Vancouver houses are very close beside each other and their house, and lives, were put at risk. Looking at a picture of the fire, you can see the flames hitting the neighbour’s home.

Firefighters working to put out the blaze...

Firefighters working to put out the blaze…

According to the developer who was building the house, this isn’t his only building where he suspects there was arson. Six months ago another East Vancouver house he was building was set on fire- he said that people saw a ‘kid’ running away afterwards. There’s no evidence anarchists were involved with this fire, but the house was reportedly also previously occupied by squatters.

Vancouver Police and the BC Crown have been very lax in their response to the city’s problem with anarchist violence over the past few years. When the VPD ignored the anarchists with flaming torches on May Day they only set the stage for what happened last night. It’s time for something to change, this madness can’t be allowed to continue.

David Eby must be so proud…

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