‘It’s heartbreaking:’ activists say after entrance gate removed from downtown tent city
NANAIMO — Housing activists and the homeless say the removal of a gate at the entrance to the recently-established tent city downtown leaves them vulnerable and unsafe.
“They’re breaching our safety,” activist Amber McGrath told NanaimoNewsNOW at Discontent City, now in it’s sixth day at 1 Port Dr. across from the Port Place Shopping Centre.
The gate was removed around 10 a.m. on Tuesday by City of Nanaimo staff under the eye of RCMP. Four were arrested but not charged.
“We use those gates to keep people out. There’s citizens threatening to Molotov cocktail us, open fire with paintball guns. People are driving by and screaming multiple times daily at us,” McGrath said.