Protesters leave rail blockade in Hamilton after injunction notices delivered

Protesters blocking rail lines in Hamilton left the scene Tuesday afternoon after police delivered a second court injunction notice.

Protesters set up a rail blockade along the train tracks between Aldershot and West Harbour GO stations in solidarity with the Wet’suwet’en Nation hereditary chiefs who oppose the 670-kilometre Coastal GasLink pipeline in northern British Columbia.

The blockade began Monday evening, hours after the Ontario Provincial Police dismantled a blockade in Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory just east of Belleville, Ont., that lasted nearly three weeks.

Protesters began to clear the scene just after 5 p.m.

Participants could be seen packing up tents and personal belongings, while small fires continued to burn on the tracks.

Officers moved in shortly after to extinguish the fires and clear the remaining debris from the tracks.

Police said no arrests were made.

1:00 Hamilton railway blockade disbanded after protesters receive injunction notices

Early Tuesday, Hamilton police const. Jerome Stewart told reporters officers were encouraging the protesters to leave “the area peacefully.”

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Officers were on scene where the blockade was and others were stationed in the nearby vicinity.

The blockade has caused GO Transit disruptions and train service has been suspended since Monday evening at Niagara Falls GO, St. Catharines GO, Hamilton GO or West Harbour GO stations.

Shuttle buses have been running between those stations to Aldershot GO.

1:16 Protesters continue to block railway tracks in Hamilton after being served injunction

According to the Wet’suwet’en Strong: Hamilton in Solidarity Facebook group, a post on Tuesday morning said: “It’s a new day, and we started it by burning the injunction delivered by CN rail.” It also encouraged others to join the protest.

“Hamilton police does respect the right of people’s freedom of assembly and peaceful assembly and expression of freedom,” Stewart said at the time. “However, we have a court injunction that’s in place right now and we are here to enforce that injunction if need be.”

Meanwhile, a blockade was set up in Toronto’s west end Tuesday afternoon. It forced the suspension of the Milton GO train line during the evening rush hour.