Ontario First Nation plan protest for Saturday – bridge may be closed

CORNWALL Ontario – If you’re heading to the U.S. on Saturday, you better make some changes to your route as the Seaway International Bridge may be closed.

A group of First Nation protesters are planning to demonstrate on Saturday at 10 a.m. in opposition to hydraulic fracturing (or fracking) used by mining companies and the like to extract minerals and oil from rock.

Environmentalists have come out against fracking as they believe it is dangerous to ecosystems surrounding mining operations.

A Solidarity Fire is burning on Cornwall Island as protesters get ready to march in support of their cause.

Idle No More Ahkwesahsne is spearheading the protest. “The marchers will meet up with the Solidarity Fire on the island and we will all march across the CBSA post in Cornwall, around the traffic circle, and back,” the group has posted on its Facebook page.

A similar protest in Cornwall last winter shut down the bridge for several hours as protesters crossed into the city and back again.

There has been no word from police, nor bridge authorities, on plans to voluntarily shut down the bridge during the protest.

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