Occupy Vancouver activists are planning to rally at their former encampment site Tuesday to mark May Day 2012, the International Day of the Worker – and organizers say more public demonstrations are in the works.
A release from the group, which has been scarcely heard of since a court-ordered injunction put an end to its initial protest camp in November, says the gathering at the Vancouver Art Gallery will be a family-friendly event with food and music.
But Occupier Suresh Fernando said the rally will involve "a number of different Occupy groups" ranging from moderates to anarchists, and "could get interesting."
"Some of this is well organized. The rest will unfold as it will," Fernando said in an email.
He added that more events are being planned for the summer, echoing statements made by Occupiers as participation began petering out as temperatures dropped last year.
The May Day event is just one of several occurring across North America Tuesday, including in New York City, the birthplace of the original Occupy Wall Street movement.
In Vancouver, Occupiers will be joined by BC Fedeartion of Labour and Vancouver & District Labour Council representatives. May Day events held in Ottawa were attended by public sector workers and others protesting government budget cuts.
Performances begin at the Vancouver Art Gallery at 1 p.m., with the rally getting underway two hours later.
