‘They don’t understand what they’re in for,’ native says. Protester arrested at northwest construction site. Brantford Expositor

Six Nations protesters promised a full-fledged land occupation in Brantford following the arrest of a native protester by city police on Monday. “They’re going to have one hell of a fight now,” said Steve Powless, who spoke on behalf of the protesters. “This is going to be Caledonia Part 2. They don’t understand what they’re in for.”

Police made the arrest near a site on Fen Ridge Court in the city’s northwest business park, where Kingspan Insulation is in the process of constructing a new headquarters and warehouse facility. Six Nations protesters say the land is under claim. The chain of events leading to Monday’s arrest began at about 8:30 a.m., when two concrete trucks carrying loads to the Kingspan site were blocked by protesters. The trucks left, but returned a second time at about 9:45 a.m. in an attempt to get on the site.

When a protester again attempted to block the trucks, he was confronted by police. A struggle took place and the man was later arrested and charged with assaulting police with intent to resist arrest and obstructing a police officer. The man’s identity has yet to be determined. In a media release, city police said officers were attempting to facilitate access of the two trucks to the Kingspan site when one protester disobeyed officers’ direction and stood in front of one of the trucks. When officers moved in to arrest the protester, he punched an officer in the face, police said.