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Last Updated: Mar 22, 2017 - 3:41:11 PM |
Save The Bays (STB) has welcomed the Prime Minister’s warning over dangers of hostile public demonstrations, pointing out that its own members have been pleading for years for relief from aggressive and intimidating protests who have placed them in fear for their lives.
The embattled environmental group, which emphasized that the safety of its members remains under serious threat because of its public interest advocacy, said it agrees with Mr. Christie that under certain circumstances, demonstrations can lead to violence and harm.
STB legal director Fred Smith said, “The difference is that while the 'We March' movement of which the Prime Minister complains has already held two peaceful and well organized events, giving no indication whatsoever that there is anything to fear from their April 2 march, the members of STB have been subjected to open hostility and intimidation by masked aggressive men on several occasions, creating a real threat of violence and harm.
“Following this, individuals came forward to admit their part in a plot to murder several STB members because we had challenged the activities of certain powerful foreign developers. All of this was ignored by the authorities and our repeated complaints to the police fell on deaf ears.
“Although we do not believe that the Prime Minister has anything to fear from the 'We March' movement, it is our hope that his sudden realization of what could happen when protests are organized from the outset with aggressive intentions in mind, will lead to some action by law enforcement against the perpetrators of these repeated malicious attacks against our members.”
Smith added that members of Save The Bays continue to face serious and urgent threats from unscrupulous developers and their agents as well as from corrupt elements within the government.
"We sincerely hope we can now count on the Prime Minister to be an ally in our fight to bring an end to the kind of heinous public attacks they have faced over the last several years," he said.
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