Angry rabble should be held accountable for threats
PAA Blog, March 9, 2012
The “Salmon are Sacred” rabble showed their true colours on Thursday, when about 30 people did their best to intimidate, insult and verbally abuse a delegation of visitors from Norway and their hosts.
The delegation came to British Columbia to have a private meeting with First Nations, facilitated by the Aboriginal Aquaculture Association who’s membership includes several dozen coastal Nations. However, because of safety concerns prompted by comments made on the Salmon are Sacred site, suggesting the group should get a sniper to shoot the delegates, the venue was changed at the last minute.
Despite the precaution, when the delegation’s bus arrived at the new venue, protestors were there including former Greenpeacer Rod Marining, who made it his mission to block the bus, and then prevent the delegation from getting off the bus by blocking the door. The delegation had to phone for help from inside the bus before they could get off.
Despite their claims of being “peaceful,” the rabble was rude, aggressive, and disrespectful as they shouted hateful slogans at the delegation, and insulted the First Nations who accompanied them.
And later that evening, the rabble took to their Facebook page to spew more hatred towards the delegation and towards salmon farmers, posting more threatening comments, this time suggesting that firebombing salmon farms would be a good way to get rid of them.
Protest is a healthy part of democracy, and “Salmon are Sacred” followers are welcome to protest salmon farming. But their aggressive, rude and threatening behaviour is exactly that; rude and threatening. Despite what they may say, not one member of this group is interested in dialogue. In fact, the leader had distanced herself from any collaborative discussion with salmon farmers years ago.
This small group of angry people does not represent the majority of British Columbians. And the most unstable and violent members of this group need to be held accountable for their threats.
