Caledonia Residents Prepare To Take Protest Matters Into Own Hands

Caledonia residents have a message for the O.P.P.: if you won’t take care of things, we will.

 

The ominous warnings come after weeks of tensions between homeowners in the small town near Hamilton and native protestors involved in a land dispute.

 

The aboriginals claim a housing complex is on their property and they’ve refused to give up their months-long occupation of the land.

 

Locals complain the police are being overly cautious in their zeal to prevent another Ipperwash and aren’t doing anything at all.

 

The reference is to the infamous shooting of native protestor Dudley George by the O.P.P. at a Sarnia park in September 1995.

 

They point to the alleged assault of two cameramen on the weekend and the issuing of several warrants.

 

But the natives have steadfastly refused to allow authorities behind the barricades to find the suspects they’re seeking.

 

Aboriginal leaders say the seven protesters wanted in connection to the violent incidents on the weekend are no longer in the area. The suspects apparently appeared before Confederacy chiefs and clan mothers Sunday to discuss the accusations against them.

Six of them are facing police charges and the seventh hasn’t been named in a warrant.

Locals have now circulated a flyer amongst themselves creating a de facto self defence ring, insisting if push comes to shove, they’ll take action the authorities won’t.

 

Among the suggestions: s ounding a car horn or alarm to draw a crowd if protestors threaten their homes, bringing help on the run. Some claim to have found Molotov cocktails and heard gunshots during the standoff.

 

The residents claim they’re not being vigilantes, responding that they’re just doing what the natives insist they’re trying to accomplish – protecting their own property.

 

Meanwhile, negotiations between the disaffected sides have resumed after the demonstrators took down two barricades on Tuesday. 

 

The government believes the cops on the scene have been doing the best job they can to keep an uneasy peace.

 

“They happen to be in a difficult situation,” notes Community Safety Minister Monte Kwinter. “This is something that nobody asks for but we have to deal with it. We have to deal with the sensitivity. There’s a 200-year history there, and I have total confidence in the O.P.P. and the job they do.”

The Opposition is  quick to disagree.

 

“It’s absolutely incredible that Dalton McGuinty kept his head buried in the sand for 106 days, and still today I think there are seven protestors who are wanted on warrants,” accuses Tory MPP Tim Hudak.

 

“There’s been little or no co-operation, and Dalton McGuinty says that’s okay. Let’s go back to the table. That’s outrageous and those individuals should be turned over to police.”

 

The standoff has been going on since February 28 ^th with no sign of an end in sight.   

 

 

Residents’ Response Plan

 

What locals are being advised to do if they’re confronted or feel threatened:

• Immediately set off your car alarm or your car horn and keep it going.
• Respond to the area of the alarm and join others in the area.
• Create a community shield between the agitators.
• Repel the aggression by creation of a large presence and advance together as one unit peacefully if possible until the offending persons remove themselves from the property and back into their own area..
• DO NOT PURSUE past the borderline…Offensive acts will result in a reciprocal act and cannot be condoned in any way.
• Remain in place until the O.P.P. are able to respond or the protestors disperse.