Release. The Abbotsford Chapter of the BC/Yukon Drug War Survivors (DWS) is issuing a request for the public’s assistance in helping its members through the increasingly cold weather.
*UPDATE 10:51 16/11/13 – Today has learned that yesterday afternoon the City of Abbotsford removed the garbage bags from the parking lot beside Jubilee Park.
Photo by Bas Stevens
The DWS has been occupying a portion of Jubilee Park in downtown Abbotsford since October 20, 2013, to register their public objections to Abbotsford’s Anti-Harm Reduction Bylaw, the Abbotsford Chicken Manure Incident during which homeless citizens and members of the DWS were attacked with chicken feces by City of Abbotsford employees, and to bring attention to the plight of the homeless who have nowhere to go.
“We have been doing our best to keep Jubilee Park clean and we thought we had an agreement with the City of Abbotsford that they would pick up the garbage we have been collecting and putting in yellow plastic bags for them,” says the DWS’ Barry Shantz.
Barry Shantz. Bas Stevens Photo
Shantz says the DWS has moved all of the garbage bags onto the public parking lot beside their protest as the lot is labeled ‘Free Parking’ and they felt it was a more appropriate location than the park itself. The DWS would appreciate anyone with a truck who could help them take the garbage away.
“We never got the electricity we asked for and it is getting pretty cold out here, especially at night, so any of our fellow citizens who have warm clothes, winter jackets or socks they would be very much appreciated,” says Shantz, adding, “Thanks to some of our friends in the community we now have the ability to cook so, if anyone has meals or food of any kind we would be eternally thankful for those donations as well.”
The DWS protest enters its 4th week next week. Shantz says his members intend to stay until the City of Abbotsford is prepared to recognize their civil rights as Canadian citizens.