On Tuesday, May 25, 100 people rallied to protest the changes to social assistance eligibility and allowances.

VANDU - Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users organized the rally and protest, which began in front of The Carnegie Community Center at Main & Hastings. Chanting and speaking, the rally marched onto the "welfare office" at Dockside - Corner of Main & Powell streets.

There members of VANDU attempted to serve social workers with letters of solidarity, that VANDU and the community affected by the changes are encouraging them to not follow the draconian and (described as) illegal changes to the social assistance eligibility.

The largest complaint from the rally protesters is the refusal to grant social assistance on the grounds of outstanding warrants in the legal system across Canada.

This, including the cuts to diet allowances and other benefits, have the community outraged.

The march concluded at the ministry office at the corner of Heatley & Alexander streets, where members if the communitty spoke as members of VANDU, the Downtown Eastside Neighborhood Council(DNC), as well as CCAP - The Carnegie Community Action Project chanted slogans.

VANDU  - http://www.vandu.org/

DNC - http://dnchome.wordpress.com/

CCAP - http://ccapvancouver.wordpress.com/