by Murray Bush, Vancouver Media Coop, May 27, 2016

RICHMOND – Imperial Metal shareholders gambled and lost today holding their AGM at the River Rock Casino. They were met with a noisy demonstration opposed to Imperial’s catastrophic Mt. Polley Mine tailings spill – the largest mining disaster in British Columbia history. So far they have not cleaned up their toxic tailings spill and have resumed mining operations.

RCMP tried unsuccessfully to shield shareholders from questions and comments from the crowd. Land Defender Kanahus Freedom was denied entry to the meeting despite having the proper documentation to attend.

Activists and members of Indigenous Land Defenders, Ancestral Pride, Secwepemc Women’s Warrior Society and No One Is Illegal confronted shareholders outside the meeting.

Organizers say Imperial is “engaging in mining practices and operations that are in direct oppostion to the protocols and inherent rights and title of the Secwepemc, Ahousaht, Tla-o-qui-aht, Wet’suwet’en, and Tahltan First Nations.”

“We the people are the Protectors and Land Defenders and with our allies supporting this indigenous-led resistance, we will make a stand to stop Imperial Metals from violating our rights. Not one more mountain will be mined, not one more water way destroyed in the name of profit, not one more tree logged to create roads for these mines.”

To see more photos from the action:

http://vancouver.mediacoop.ca/photo/shareholders-shamed-imperial-metals-agm/35230