Police reported no major incidents following a large, unsanctioned street party in East Vancouver Friday night.
Ahead of the event, police and neighbours asked the public to avoid the party, but their request went unheeded as approximately 500 people filled Commercial Drive, blocking traffic.
The party moved to the street shortly after 9:30 p.m., when a number of people showed up with loud speakers and a large banner that said “F*** the PERMITS”.
They then stood in the intersection until others joined them, creating an impromptu dance party.
Following that, hundreds of people began marching down Commercial Drive.
The street party was organized online and more than 5,000 people said they would attend the event that started at 7 p.m. in Grandview Park.
The organizers said they did not have a licence to hold the event.
On the event’s Facebook page they said the party “is organized by individuals who take issue with the fact that the Vancouver Police Department and the City of Vancouver don’t allow people to host public events without granted permission.”
They also wrote that while they will not be supplying alcohol or encouraging public consumption, they also don’t support policing the activities of other attendees. The event is free because “no one is interested in financially profiting from this event.”
Vancouver Police said the event wasn’t a street party but a demonstration under the guise of a street party and expressed concern for the public’s safety.
While the organizers wrote that they “heard from many people that they had never experienced such a joyful, communal atmosphere,” a lot of neighbours in the area around the park are not as excited.
The sentiment is in large part due to a similar party the organizers put together to celebrate May Day. The demonstration drew close to 5,000 people and while it was largely peaceful, it did include a group of about 70 protesters who were “intent on disrupting others,” according to police.
People in the area said there was a huge amount of garbage left behind at the May Day demonstration and one person was stabbed and sent to hospital with non-threatening injuries.
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