Woman dies at Occupy protest

Woman dies at Occupy protest, Woman dies at Occupy Vancouver site. VANCOUVER - On the heels of a death at Occupy Vancouver Saturday, the city’s mayor vowed to end the encampment he says has become dangerous.

“This is second critical incident in two days - obviously there is a serious problem here,” Mayor Gregor Robertson said from the Occupy site at Vancouver Art Gallery.


“Having people die … is not OK.”

As punk rock band DOA played before a crowd at Occupy Vancouver, police roped off a tent nearby where a young woman was found unresponsive.

Emergency crews were called to the scene shortly after 4:30 p.m. Saturday after the woman, believed to be in her 20s, was found inside a tent at the encampment on the ground of the downtown Vancouver Art Gallery. She was pronounced dead at hospital.

Police cordoned off the area and called in the forensic squad. While her death is not considered suspicious, police wouldn’t speculate it was caused by a drug overdose.

The death comes only two days after a man survived a heroin overdose, leading officials to clamp down on the tent city, ordering the removal of unoccupied tents. However, the city continues to supply electricity and other services.

“Our thoughts and prayers go to her family. This loss of life and the overdose a few days ago clearly demonstrate the situation here has deteriorated,” said the mayor, who has been under increasing political pressure to deal with the site. “There are real questions now as to the safety on this site.”

As Robertson addressed the media, protesters shouted him down. They questioned why the mayor would shut down the site when there are people overdose on drugs every day on the city’s nearby downtown east side (DTES).

“Do you close down every hotel you find a corpse in?” shouted one protester.

The mayor said the city’s legal team is working on a way to force out the tent city.

The protesters, however, vowed not to go.

“We will not agree to be shut down. We will be here and you can expect us,” a woman who called herself Kiki said to cheers.

The woman who died Saturday, known to those on site as Ashley, was found in a tent where friends thought she was sleeping.

"It's been really difficult for them," said protester Lauren Gill of the woman's friends after discovering her.

Gill said the movement was planning to cancel the evening's general assembly and that it would support the woman's family in planning a memorial. An impromptu candlelight vigil was held on the sidewalk.

Counsellors were also brought in to speak with Occupiers following the death.

Media who arrived on scene also faced confrontation by Occupiers who attempted to clear the area of spectators, calling for respect following the woman's death. woman dies occupy vancouver, woman occupy vancouver drug overdose, man occupy vancouver treated drug overdose,

Camera crews who attempted to film were obstructed by Occupy protesters wearing neon safety vests holding cardboard signs that read, "Love is greater than $."

Another man who attempted to re-enter the cordoned-off area of the encampment was ejected by police as cameras clicked and protesters fended off reporters.

The B.C. Coroner’s service has been notified and efforts to locate the woman’s next of kin are underway.

Source:torontosun