Leave peaceful protesters alone

Brantford Expositor, March 19 08

The solution to the problem of the native protesters in our community does not lie in exerting police force.

The removal by police of peaceful protesters, although they are asking to be consulted on disputed land and even collecting a little money in some cases as development fees, would break our existing peace in our community.

There is controversy over the collection of these fees among the natives and non-natives alike, however, any supporters of the cause in general who identify and support the cause, of which the root is the systematic oppression and abuse of natives and land by the government, will undoubtedly react in anger and retaliatory action should the protesters be greeted with police force. These supporters, as anyone who's been following Caledonia is aware, are overwhelming in number, and are local, national, and even international.

Removing the peaceful protesters would be a naive knee-jerk reaction to the inconveniences a handful of frustrated developers are having at the expense of peace in our community.

Danica Vanpopic

Brantford

Article ID# 949110