Situation turned ugly when violent protesters arrived, says councillor

Shawn Cleary believes the leader of the provincial NDP helped to escalate tensions during a violent protest Wednesday

HALIFAXtoday \  Meghan Groff

A Halifax councillor says it’s unfortunate a police operation to dismantle homeless encampments turned violent.

Halifax Regional Police moved in to take down tents and wooden structures Wednesday at Peace and Friendship Park, the Halifax Common, Horseshoe Island Park and the site of the old Halifax Memorial Library on Spring Garden Road.

However, chaos erupted near the old library, where officers donned riot gear and protesters were sprayed with pepper spray.

“In Horseshoe Island Park and in Peace and Friendship Park, things went relatively smoothly, but it was only when protesters, and particularly violent protesters, were engaged that things took an ugly turn,” stated Halifax West Armdale councillor Shawn Cleary.

“In videos and reports, I saw people pulling on police, pushing police, throwing things at police, and actually the throwing things at police is what caused the mace spraying, which accidentally led to a youth being sprayed and that was unfortunate, but the police officer had something thrown at them,” he continued. “I saw videos of police being kicked, there was actually a police officer that was headbutted, blood was coming down and they had to go get checked out to see if they had a broken nose. There were several police vehicles that had their windows smashed in, it was a very unfortunate situation.”

Cleary told NEWS 95.7 fill-in host Todd Veinotte he believes the provincial NDP leader helped to inflame tensions.

The Canadian Press reports Gary Burrill stood behind police lines and chanted “Homes, not cops!” through a megaphone.

“I was unbelievably disappointed to see a leader of a provincial party who alleged that they wanted de-escalation,” Cleary said. “He grabbed a megaphone and he was leading the crowd in an anti-police chant.”

“That was not de-escalation. He was the one actually escalating the situation. I’m not blaming him for the violence, but after is when things got really violent.”

Cleary said the removal of tents and wooden structures was necessary for the health and safety of their inhabitants, as well as those living near the parks where the homeless encampments were located.

“I certainly don’t want to paint all of the homeless residents in these tents with the same brush but there were a number of incidents that happened,” he said. “In fact, over the last number of weeks or months, there’s been at least, that I’m aware of, six charges that have been laid against people in the tents. Everything from harassment, assault, sexual assault, human trafficking, and those charges are before the courts.”

The District 9 councillor said alternatives, including hotel rooms, had been offered to those living in the parks. He added housing, mental health and addictions are all responsibilities of the province, not the municipality, and he’d like to see the incoming government do more to address the housing crisis.

“These are some of the most vulnerable people in society and it’s heartbreaking to see people having to live in a shed or tent,” Clearly said. “Nobody in a wealthy, democratic country like ours wants to see anything like this. Unfortunately, it’s happening and the province needs to step up and needs to create more affordable housing units.”

“[HRM] is certainly doing what we can in terms of selling municipal land for a dollar … we have millions of dollars in money we can grant out now through our Centre Plan Density Bonuses to non-profits to build housing, we’ve waived development fees and Halifax Water is actually amortizing their water fees up to a 10 year period for non-profit housing development, so the city is trying.”

Cleary said anyone who feels they were treated unfairly during Wednesday’s protest can file an official complaint with the Office of the Police Complaints Commissioner.

“We don’t want any institution to get away with something they’re not supposed to be doing,” he said.