Protester arrested after jumping fence onto Nanaimo Airport runway
A protester with Extinction Rebellion Nanaimo was arrested by RCMP at the Nanaimo Airport after he jumped a fence and entered the tarmac on Monday.
The incident happened around 12:40 p.m. when the protest group was gathered outside the airport’s terminal protesting against the use of fossil fuels for aircraft.
It was part of a nationwide protest at airports across Canada.
"We cannot afford to continue to burn fossil fuels at the rate we are burning and survive," said Leah Morgan, coordinator for Extinction Rebellion Nanaimo.
The protest was part of a global climate protesting campaign leading up to a UN climate summit, according to Extinction Rebellion: (CTV News)
The protester who jumped the fence was able to spray paint a message on the tarmac which stated, "Shut down runways to shut down runaway climate extinction," according to Extinction Rebellion.
Ladysmith RCMP arrived shortly after and arrested the man, transporting him to their detachment.
"It didn't disrupt any of our flights but (it's) very concerning that they would get on the air side and put any of our passengers at any type of risk," said Dave Devana, president and CEO of the Nanaimo Airport.
The protester was charged with mischief and later released until their next court appearance.
Today’s protest were part of a two-week daily protest campaign by Extinction Rebellion chapters across the world.
The two weeks of protests are leading up to the UN Climate Conference, COP26, scheduled to take place in November in Glasgow, Scotland.
Extinction Rebellion Nanaimo is planning a large protest in the city’s harbour next weekend.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparent scam: London, Ont., senior beats fraudsters not once, but twice
It was a typical Tuesday for Mabel Beharrell, 84, until she got the call that would turn her world upside down. Her teenaged grandson was in trouble and needed her help.
Deaths of 4 people on Sask. farm confirmed as murder-suicide
The deaths of four people on a farm near the Saskatchewan village of Neudorf have been confirmed a murder-suicide.
CRA no longer requiring 'bare trust' reporting in 2023 tax return
The Canada Revenue Agency announced Thursday it will not require 'bare trust' reporting from Canadians that it introduced for the 2024 tax season, just four days before the April 2 deadline.
Full parole granted to man convicted in notorious 'McDonald's murders' in Cape Breton
The Parole Board of Canada has granted full parole to one of three men convicted in the brutal murders of three McDonald's restaurant workers in Cape Breton more than 30 years ago.
Incident on Calgary's Reconciliation Bridge comes to safe resolution
Nearly 20 hours after a man climbed and remained perched on top of the Reconciliation Bridge in downtown Calgary, the situation came to a peaceful resolution.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
George Washington family secrets revealed by DNA from unmarked 19th century graves
Genetic analysis has shed light on a long-standing mystery surrounding the fates of U.S. President George Washington's younger brother Samuel and his kin.
'We won't forget': How some Muslims view Poilievre's stance on Israel-Hamas war
A spokesman for a regional Muslim advocacy group says Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's stance on the Israel-Hamas war could complicate his party's relationship with Muslim Canadians.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.