Activists Shut Down BC Pension Corporation for Palestine

Thirty activists blockaded the entrances to the BC Pension Corporation headquarters in Victoria this morning over its continued investments into weapon manufacturers contributing to the escalating crisis in Palestine.

The action was announced only thirty minutes in advance and lasted a total of two hours. I was told at least forty cars had been turned away, but since I arrived nearly one hour into the event I cannot corroborate this information. VicPD would send no more than five officers in total, who made no overt threats of arrest. After some late negotiation, the protesters agreed to let BC Pension officers through on foot, although car traffic was still blocked; but by then they were already planning their exit, having effectively shut down the workplace for the day.

The protesters demanded BC Pension Corporation, which oversees public sector pensions, divest from weapon manufacturers known to profit from the genocide in Gaza, including Lockheed Martin, itself a repeated target of direct action. They also denounced investments in General Dynamics, a major IDF supplier, and Northrop Grumman, a close Lockheed Martin partner.

This was only one of many such actions held today as part of a worldwide call for economic shutdown. Just across the strait, protesters have blockaded Deltaport near Vancouver for hours, causing major traffic and economic disruption. Their main target was Zim, a major shipping company, which in recent months was subjected to repeated blockades at the port of Melbourne by activists and union workers refusing to load its cargo.

On our end, the protest concluded without incident. One creepy police car stayed behind and followed us until we dispersed, most likely in an abundance of caution since until that point we remained an unlawful assembly. Nevertheless—and this will come as a shock to no one—the police revealed today it was profiling protesters involved in illegal activity, and its interest extends as far as the weekend protests. While I wouldn’t fret about it (they have a binder file on me alone), common sense dictates anonymity in direct action cannot hurt, so in doubt cover your face just in case the cops decide to knock at activists’ doors down the road.