Protestors are currently blocking a Downtown Eastside intersection for Overdose Awareness Day.
At 2:24 p.m. on Aug.31, the Vancouver Police tweeted that the intersection of Main and Hastings streets is currently closed due to the protest. They advise drivers to find an alternate route and stay tuned for updates.
The protest was organized by the Coalition of Peers Dismantling the Drug War, who have a listing for the demonstration on a Facebook page. The group is calling for the following:
- Repeal the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA).
- Release everyone imprisoned under the CDSA and void all charges and criminal records.
- Defimd all police services, including RCMP and prosecutors; use those funds as reparations to those most harmed by the Canadian war on drug users.
- Immediately expand safer supply programs, including non-prescription programs developed by drug users.
The City of Vancouver also shared an image of the blocked intersection on its Traffic Camera Images page.
City of Vancouver In lieu of an in-person update to the media today, Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada's Chief Public Health Officer, issued a statement.
""There have been 127,940 cases of COVID-19 in Canada, including 9,117 deaths. 89% of people have now recovered. Labs across Canada tested an average of almost 48,000 people daily over the past week with 0.7% testing positive. An average of 435 new cases have been reported daily during the most recent seven days," she said.
"Today is International Overdose Awareness Day, a global event that aims to raise awareness of overdose and reduce the stigma of drug-related death. It is also a day to acknowledge the grief felt by families and friends remembering those who have died or had a permanent injury as a result of a drug overdose. The ongoing opioid-related overdose crisis in Canada has claimed the lives of over 15,000 Canadians from all backgrounds since 2016 leaving too many members of communities across the country mourning the loss of loved ones, each with their own unique story."
Read more from her statement HERE.
More to come..
