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Cops Blink on Tent City Takedown

by murray bush - flux photo

 Cops Blink on Tent City Takedown
 Cops Blink on Tent City Takedown
 Cops Blink on Tent City Takedown
 Cops Blink on Tent City Takedown
Police spokesman announces "no immediate action"
 Cops Blink on Tent City Takedown
Campers shouting "Homes Not Jails" (and media)  follow police around camp
 Cops Blink on Tent City Takedown
Packing up with 'Precious'
Packing up
 Cops Blink on Tent City Takedown
Sacred Fire

OPPENHEIMER PARK - Strong camper, supporter, legal observer and media presence at the Homeless Tent City kept Vancouver Police at bay last night. The City of Vancouver had a court order for the VPD to move in and dismantle the three-month-old Indigenous camp and arrest campers as of 10pm, but they held off.

 Many of the more than 250 campers have already packed up, but many remain at the site - vowing to defy the eviction order. 

A brief attempt to enter the camp last night just after 10pm by two VPD officers and a fire marshall were met with calls for an immediate wall of supporters linking arms around the camp and the police quickly retreated to their idling  VPD ``Mobile Command Centre."

The most popular rumour is that police will enter the camp and make arrests of remaining homeless campers early Thursday morning.

UPDATE

THURSDAY MORNING: Police have moved into the park along with City of Vancouver municipal workers. Remaining campers are being offered a blue bin for their stuff and the City's promise to keep it for up to a month without destroying it. Lots of people`s stuff is getting thrown into garbage trucks. More VPD cameras have reportedly been set up around the park. Campers are being offered shelter beds but not housing.  Remaining campers say they have nowhere to go. Four arrests reported.

Catch the news as it breaks: follow the VMC on Twitter.
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