Old-growth logging protests reached a milestone on Thursday, July 29 with the 500th arrest since police began enforcing the BC Supreme Court injunction in the Fairy Creek watershed area.

Police reported that two people, including a minor, were arrested on Thursday for breaching the injunction after being removed from a tripod structure, and a third was arrested after voluntarily unlocking themselves from a device.

According to a post on the Fairy Creek Blockade Facebook page run by the Rainforest Flying Squad, the minor was a 17-year-old Indigenous girl who had spent five days atop the tripod in a location known as Ewok Camp.

All three arrested protesters were processed and released in Port Renfrew after signing release conditions.

Protesters have been camped in the Fairy Creek watershed for nearly a year, and the RCMP began enforcing the injunction on May 17. Of the 500 arrests since enforcement began, at least 29 individuals have been arrested more than once. A total of 361 people have been arrested from breaching the injunction, 109 for obstruction, three for breaching release conditions, five for a combination of obstruction and breaching release conditions, 10 for mischief, four for assaulting a police officer, one for counselling to resist arrest, and one on Canada-wide warrants issued by the Canada Border Services Agency.

Despite the arrests and the possibility of criminal charges, the Rainforest Flying Squad is vowing to continue the protests and blockades at Fairy Creek and other old-growth forests.

B次元官网网址淭here is no lack of people heading up to Fairy Creek willing to be arrested,B次元官网网址� RFS spokesperson Kathy Code said in an email to Black Press. B次元官网网址淓ven the spectre of the Attorney General waiting there with criminal contempt charges doesnB次元官网网址檛 seem to have dampened the passion. We have elders who were at Clayquot 30 years ago going [to Fairy Creek] to be arrested. People of all ages and from all walks of life are still willing to put themselves on the line and we are forever grateful. In saving the old-growth forests, we are saving ourselves and most importantly, the Indigenous traditions and culture.B次元官网网址�

Code noted that Aug. 9 will mark the one-year anniversary since protesters made their stand at Fairy Creek, and said that celebrations are planned.

B次元官网网址淥n August 9 and 10, there will be a milestone event at the Legislature,B次元官网网址� she wrote. B次元官网网址淎ll are welcome. Details still to be determined, but there will be ceremony, music, speakers, a photo installation, etc. We are hoping to attract all those protesters involved in the protests for the past 30 years from Clayquot, Meares Island, etc.B次元官网网址�

An art show is also in the works, Code added, as well as a B次元官网网址淪acred Circle Sunrise to Sunrise eventB次元官网网址� on Aug. 14 and 15, featuring prayers, music, dance and speakers.