Defiant protesters burn injunction after Manitoba judge orders landfill blockade to come down

Protesters at Winnipeg's Brady Road landfill remained defiant Friday night, ignoring a judge's order to stop blocking the main road into the facility and burning a copy of the injunction he issued earlier in the day.

The main entrance to the city-owned landfill has been blocked for more than a week in response to the Manitoba government's decision not to fund a search of the Prairie Green landfill, north of Winnipeg, where the remains of two First Nations women who police say were homicide victims — Morgan Harris and Marcedes Myran — are believed to be.

Supporters of the blockade at the Brady Road facility said they were willing to get arrested if need be after a Manitoba judge granted an interim injunction that prevents protesters from blocking the main road to the facility. 

Manitoba Court of King's Bench Justice Sheldon Lanchbery said Friday afternoon that while the protest is "valid," the city must be allowed to operate the landfill and the roadway can no longer be blocked.

The injunction went into effect at 6 p.m. CT on Friday.

In the minutes before that deadline approached, CBC News observed an official with the city's water and waste department posting the injunction near the blockade site on a placard, which was kicked over by protesters shortly afterwards.

After the injunction came into effect, a Winnipeg Police Service liaison officer asked protesters at the site whether they would leave. Darryl Contois, one of the people taking part in the blockade, said that they would not.

As of 7:30 p.m. Friday, approximately 50-60 protesters were still at the site, including about a dozen children.

A few minutes later, a crowd gathered as a copy of the injunction was set on fire.

Earlier on Friday, more than 40 people packed the Winnipeg courtroom when Lanchbery gave his decision. Many stormed out of the room upon hearing the ruling.

Outside the courthouse, some supporters of the blockade said they were were angered by the judge's decision and were prepared to be arrested.

"If that's what the Canadian government wants to do and force on our people, then so be it. Let us get arrested," said Aundrea Spence. 

WATCH: Supporters of blockade say they're prepared to be arrested:

Val Vint said it was frustrating to see the blockade at the Brady landfill ordered to end after a matter of days, drawing a comparison with a protest against COVID-19 vaccine mandates and public health orders that was allowed to block streets in downtown Winnipeg for weeks last year.