Day 29 of Occupy Nova Scotia (ONS) saw hundreds rally and take back Parade Square after Occupiers were evicted by police on Remembrance Day and fourteen were arrested.
Mike Anthony was one of those arrested yesterday. He said Occupiers were given no warning and no time to make a plan before police started taking people's tents, some of which belonged to homeless people.
"This occupation is going to change shape, but it will never end," Anthony told the cheering crowd.
The shape ONS is going to take in the coming days remains to be seen. There was an open mic at the rally today where dozens of people stood up to have their voices heard.
Ifo Ikeda reminded the crowd that they were standing on Mi'kmaq land. "We need to decolonize Native North America," he said, in order to get to the root of the injustices the Occupy Movement is fighting against. He encouraged the crowd to learn more about their colonial history, and to look up the Two Row Wampum. "We need to acknowledge we're on Mi'kmaq Territory," he said, "I respectfully suggest changing the name to UnOccupy Nova Scotia."
Rene Ross pointed out that Halifax has the highest rate of sexual assault in the country and has many unsolved murders. Ross, the executive director at Stepping Stone, a non-profit organization that supports former and current sex workers, questioned why police were arresting peaceful protesters and not solving those crimes.
Ross also criticized Peter Kelly's estimation that ONS had cost the city thousands of dollars and asked what the cost of poverty was. "Shame on politicians that don't support winter shelters," she said.
Representatives of Occupy Wolfville told the crowd "We need to make this movement rural," because many people don't live in cities and can't travel to participate. "We will be here when you most need us, like today," said one Occupy Wolfville representative. "Please inform us what we can do from rural areas to help you, and we will inform you what you can do to help us."
Two women stood up who said that they were assaulted by police during the eviction yesterday . One of the women pointed out the police officer that choked her and demanded his badge number, which he refused to give to the jeering crowd.
"I hope what happened yesterday helps shed some light on what happens every day to marginalized people," said Stuart Caldwell, one of the Occupiers. "Until [the police] stop taking orders, they are not our friends. They serve the one per cent."
Occupy Nova Scotia participants are planning a General Assembly tonight to decide their next move and where they will (un)occupy next.