Activists Fire-Bomb Ottawa Bank in Name of Indigenous Rights: What Do You Think? POLL

Yesterday around 3:30 am, an Ottawa branch of the Royal Bank of Canada was torched in the name of “aboriginal peoples, workers and the poor” of British Columbia. It then appears the people responsible posted a video of the fire-bombing. The brief video of the actual incident is followed by a message (full text here) highlighting RBC’s major sponsorship of the 2010 Olympics “on stolen indigenous land.”

The bombers (whose identity/affiliation remains limited to “FFFC Ottawa” until confirmed otherwise) also express their anger over the bank’s role as

the major financier of Alberta’s tar sands [aka Oil Sands], one of the largest industrial projects in human history and perhaps the most destructive. The tar sands, now the cause of the second fastest rate of deforestation on the planet, are slated to expand several times its current size.

By my count, at least three people can be seen in the video: presumably a cameraperson, plus two other people seen leaving the bank amidst the flames. Perhaps ironically, their getaway car was elsewhere “described only as being an SUV.”

But there may be more irony to come: for it is by no means clear or obvious that this incident will enjoy the wide-spread support of those who reportedly “inspired” the arson — namely, indigenous peoples.

And so, to help gauge what said peoples might think (and anyone else who cares to take part), mediaINDIGENA launches its second-ever poll: Tell us your thoughts: first by voting, then by adding your comments below!

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