Vancouver police are preparing for a significant influx of demonstrators downtown this Saturday, anticipating crowds that could surpass the estimated 6,000 people who gathered last weekend. Multiple rallies are planned, including one opposing U.S. foreign policy actions and another denouncing the deadly crackdown on protesters in Iran.
Police Prepare for Peaceful Assembly
In response to the expected turnout, the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) is increasing its visible presence. Sergeant Steve Addison stated earlier this week that more than 130 officers are scheduled to be deployed across 11 planned protests throughout the weekend. "Everyone has a right to gather lawfully and to peacefully express themselves," Addison said. "Our officers will have a visible presence at protests and gathering spots throughout the city to ensure everyone’s safety."
Addison emphasized the hope that participants will respect differing viewpoints, even amidst disagreement. The police strategy focuses on maintaining order, providing a safe environment for peaceful assembly, and minimizing disruptions for the general public not involved in the demonstrations.
Dual Causes Driving Demonstrations
The scheduled rallies are centered on two major international issues. One demonstration, beginning at Jack Poole Plaza, is a protest against U.S. aggression and threats to the sovereignty of Greenland. This rally will subsequently move to the U.S. Consulate in Vancouver.
A separate gathering is planned for the Vancouver Art Gallery to demand an end to the killing of protesters in Tehran, Iran. This follows an acknowledgment by Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who said on Saturday that "several thousand people" died in recent anti-government demonstrations. Khamenei claimed some were killed "brutally and inhumanely" and accused the U.S. and Israel of aiding the violence.
Context from Previous Weekend's Protests
The upcoming events follow large-scale protests in Vancouver last weekend, where approximately 6,000 people assembled at various downtown locations. Those gatherings addressed the uprising in Tehran, the war in Gaza, and conflicts involving the U.S. While police reported that the majority of those protests were peaceful, officers had to physically separate some groups outside the Vancouver Art Gallery to prevent physical conflicts.
The VPD expects both the size and number of protests to increase this Saturday, drawing thousands more to the city's core. The planned demonstrations are part of a broader pattern of civic engagement in Vancouver concerning international human rights and foreign policy.
The backdrop for the protest against U.S. actions includes recent announcements from U.S. President Donald Trump. On Saturday, he declared a 10 per cent import tax, starting in February, on goods from eight European nations—Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the U.K., the Netherlands, and Finland—citing opposition to U.S. control of Greenland. He further threatened on social media to raise the tariff to 25 per cent in June unless a deal is reached for the "complete and total purchase of Greenland."
