Five pipeline protesters released from jail Sunday claimed to be “political prisoners.”
The group, including Order of Canada recipient Jean Swanson and the former president of the B.C. Teachers’ Federation Susan Lambert, were released after spending five days in jail. All had been sentenced to seven days imprisonment on Wednesday but were released early.
(Most offenders in B.C. are released sometime after two thirds of their sentence has been served if they have displayed good behaviour.)
“We were imprisoned because we are opposed to the [Kinder Morgan] pipeline expansion, which poses such a terrible threat to our planet,” reads a hand-written press release signed by all five activists.
“Yes, prison conditions are harsh, but we were political prisoners. We are not criminals, we violated the injunction because we are so terribly aware that emissions from fossil fuels are destroying our climate, our planet and our children’s future.”
The five people released Sunday are among more than 200 individuals who have been arrested for violating a B.C. Supreme Court injunction meant to prevent interference with work on the pipeline project.
Swanson is currently running for a seat on Vancouver’s city council with the left-wing Coalition of Progressive Electors (COPE).
Press release, handwritten and signed by the 5 political prisoners released today. #vanpoli #ProtectTheInlet pic.twitter.com/l3Ypd1hbqQ
— COPE | 進步選民聯盟 (@COPEVancouver) August 19, 2018
