On Wednesday I went down to witness the illegal decampment on East Hastings street and stand in solidarity with community advocates.  A few hours later I was thrown to the ground as the VPD started pushing the crowd back. I saw the police use traffic barriers and bicycles to slam into people, including an Indigenous elder in a wheelchair. I saw them smash a ceremonial smudge plate to the ground, which is most likely a hate crime. I saw city workers throwing peoples belongings in the trash while destroying their homes. All the while legal observers begged them to stand down. 

Ken Sim has now been in office for one month, and it’s as easy as ABC to see this is a right-wing municipal government. Whatever centrist packaging they put on it, this doesn’t come as a huge surprise, since they came to power with the backing of the Vancouver Police Union and many of the city’s super-rich like billionaire Chip Wilson.