A group of tent city residents and supporters have seized an empty school in Nanaimo.

A press release from Alliance Against Displacement on Friday evening advised that homeless people and supporters from tent city have moved into the to begin what they91裸聊视频檙e calling the 91裸聊视频楽choolhouse Squat.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淲e have claimed this building as a safe spot for homeless people,91裸聊视频� said Amber McGrath, Discontent City supporter, outside the school Friday evening. 91裸聊视频淔or five months, Discontent City has been home for the homeless [to] camp. We were unhoused, but we made a home. The government and courts are trying to make us homeless again and we will not go along with it.91裸聊视频�

The civil disobedience begins the same day that the provincial government announced at two sites in Nanaimo at Terminal Avenue and Labieux Road.

McGrath said the announcement is awesome.

91裸聊视频淎nd if people at Discontent City want that housing, then it91裸聊视频檚 up to them. They should be part of that discussion if they want that kind of housing. They weren91裸聊视频檛 [consulted] if they wanted that kind of housing. They were sort of given supportive housing; 24-hour supportinve housing doesn91裸聊视频檛 leave you any tenants91裸聊视频� rights.91裸聊视频�

Nanaimo RCMP are on scene at Rutherford elementary.

91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e assessing the damage to the school, we91裸聊视频檙e having some dialogue with the individuals to determine what their intentions are, and we91裸聊视频檒l be in consultation with the school district because they are the holders of the land,91裸聊视频� said Const. Gary O91裸聊视频橞rien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesman.

He said the situation is different than some other break-ins due to the number of people in the school, thought to be upwards of a dozen, and O91裸聊视频橞rien said there91裸聊视频檚 an 91裸聊视频渙fficer safety component91裸聊视频� to consider.

The press release notes that the the Schoolhouse Squat offers 91裸聊视频渁 home for the hundreds of homeless people displaced by a brutal and unjust displacement order won by the City of Nanaimo from the Supreme Court of British Columbia.91裸聊视频�

The Alliance Against Displacement is asking anyone to join the squat or start up others, saying the protest will serve as an appeal to the government for help.

91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e basically encouraging everybody across the province and across the country, there91裸聊视频檚 empty schools everywhere,91裸聊视频� McGrath said. 91裸聊视频淭ake those schools. Homeless people shouldn91裸聊视频檛 be out in the cold.91裸聊视频�

Sophie Wendling, another Discontent City supporter, joined the press conference via speakerphone from inside Rutherford school. She said those inside intend to stay as long as they can.

91裸聊视频淲e want to open up this space so that other people can come and be where it91裸聊视频檚 warm and dry in an unused space,91裸聊视频� she said.

Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools could not be reached for comment.

Organizers of Discontent City holding a press conference at Rutherford School.

91裸聊视频� Nicholas M Pescod (@npescod)

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