Rev. Gary Paterson called Occupy 麻豆传媒映画protesters "friends." He waded into the audience to calm the most disruptive ones. He even sang, We are gentle angry people, to cool the tense atmosphere.
But Monday night the St. Andrews-Wesley United Church minister couldnt completely quiet disgruntled Occupy 麻豆传媒映画protesters jeers and disruptions at the most raucous mayoral debate so far of the civic election.
Top mayoral contenders Mayor Gregor Robertson and Coun. Suzanne Anton debated affordable housing and homelessness at the forum organized by the group End Homelessness Now, but the focus often turned to crowd control.
Many in the packed church were frustrated they couldnt talk or hear about the issues after protesters hijacked the event.
The protesters marched on the church waving placards hours after the city served notice to them to remove tents and structures at the Occupy 麻豆传媒映画encampment at the 麻豆传媒映画Art Gallery. Mondays notice followed the sudden death of 23-year-old camper Ashlie Gough on the weekend. A hearing on an injunction to remove the structures was set for Tuesday after the Couriers deadline.
Paterson, whose partner is Vision Coun. Tim Stevenson, was patient with the protesters while trying to maintain order. Disruptions included periodic mic checks where a protester would yell a question or comment that was repeated by other protesters, as well as taunts such as Why should we believe you?, Lies and Tell the truth directed at Robertson and Anton.
Its really important we hear people and wrestle with issues of homeless and affordable housing and if a church isnt involved in that its missed the message of Jesus, Paterson told a handful of reporters after the debate. So people came with passion and concern and we try and hold the space open and together. I was concerned about people being considerate of one another... I sympathize with, I identify with, and I agree with many of the concerns and questions people of Occupy 麻豆传媒映画come with. I may disagree with the style in which they try to lift these questions up, but I also respect that there is anger and hurt.
Paterson said the debate went OK, although he was troubled when shouts drowned out questions and answers.
That makes me sad because the issues were really important that they brought upmy one sad moment was when at the very back of the church at the beginning there was one of the big [protest] signs and a [protester] was on one side. He said were on opposite sides. I thought thats a false dichotomy. I want to see us on the same side and to figure out a way we can talk, dialogue, push each other.
During the debate, Anton said her campaign is about leadership and argued previous NPA-dominated councils did much of the heavy lifting on homelessness and affordable housing.
If elected, she promised to focus on creating permanent homes for more people.
A [homeless] shelter is not a home For Gregor Robertson, shelters are mission accomplished. For me its not. For the NPA its not, she said.
Anton also said shed cut red tape at city hall and work with provincial and federal governments to move affordable and social housing projects forward.
Robertson said hed leverage city property to create more housing and added that that affordable housing for seniors and aboriginal people is critical. He said he backs a 24/7 womens shelter in the Downtown Eastside, and cited the need for a rent bank.
There are 670 fewer people on the streets than six years ago, he added. Our job is not finished until no person is forced to sleep outside.
After the debate Anton, who wants Occupy 麻豆传媒映画tents and structures removed, walked into a hostile audience and faced a young protester who told her, Youre a terrible person.
Mayor Gregor Robertson told reporters in a scrum at the back of the church most Vancouverites are concerned about issues raised by Occupy Vancouver, but the nature of those at tent city has changed since the tent city emerged in mid-October.
He wouldnt commit to a timeline for removal of the tents and said it was troubling when one protester mentioned the word riot during public question period.
Its very troubling to hear about people talking about riots, he said. All of us are still very sensitive about what happened on June 15 and being mindful of that and dealing with the Occupy situation we do not want to see that degenerate into violence. Thats been my focus to find a peaceful resolution to it. Weve seen it go off the rails in other cities [that have] taken a heavy-handed approach. I dont want to see that happen in Vancouver.
Twitter: @Naoibh7
