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Five women activists who were arrested and hauled away in handcuffs when they refused to leave the B.C. legislature building after a March 12th meeting with Ida Chong, the minister responsible for women’s and seniors’ issues in the Liberal government of Premier Gordon Campbell, have been banned for life from B.C.’s legislature. The five were protesting a complete funding cut to the province’s 37 women’s centres. Trespassing charges were later dropped.
The ban stands.
“This is nothing short of mean and vindictive,” says George Heyman, B.C. Government and Service Employees’ Union (BCGEU/NUPGE) president.
“There is absolutely no reason why these women should be banned from the legislature. They are not a threat to anyone. All charges against them have been dropped. They did nothing wrong, and should have access to the legislature the same as any other British Columbian.”
