Pubdate: Thu, 21 Dec 2000
Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC)
Copyright: The Vancouver Sun 2000
Contact:  200 Granville Street, Ste.#1, Vancouver BC V6C 3N3
Fax: (604) 605-2323
Website: http://www.vancouversun.com/
Author: Chad Skelton

CITING HARASSMENT, ACTIVIST CALLS IT QUITS

'I'm Fearful What's Going To Happen'

The head of a community group opposed to the expansion of services for
drug addicts in the Downtown Eastside says he has been forced to quit
by what he calls a campaign of intimidation including weekly protests
outside his office, feces smeared against his door and threatening
phone calls.

"We're trying to speak out about drugs and crime in our community and
I've been subjected to a huge amount of harassment and vandalism,"
said Bryce Rositch, a Gastown architect who heads the Community
Alliance. "I'm fearful what's going to happen."

The Community Alliance represents businesses and residents, of the
Strathcona, Gastown and Chinatown neighbourhoods, opposed to expanding
social housing and services for addicts in their neighbourhoods.  The
group was influential in Mayor Philip Owen's decision last August to
implement a 90-day moratorium on new services for drug addicts in the
Downtown Eastside.

Rositch said he respects the right of people to disagree with him, but
said the protests have gone too far.

"I really believe I should have the right to speak out without fear of
harassment," he said. "When they attack me personally at my residence
and business ... they're intimidating me."

Shelly Fahey of the Anti-Poverty Action Committee, which has been
distributing food outside Rositch's Gastown office every Monday,
considers Rositch's decision good news. "If he's intimidated, I'm
glad. We want him to back down,'' Fahey said, while explaining she
doesn't know anything about the vandalism at Rositch's office.

Rositch provided The Vancouver Sun with one of the signs promoting an
food giveaway last month.

"Bryce Rositch hates you if you're homeless, addicted to drugs, a
sex-trade worker or poor,'' the sign says in big block letters.
"Rositch is the chair of the evil Community Alliance. . . .
'Community' my ass. Let's show Rositch what community is - come to the
free-food serving at Rositch's office and make noise."

Rositch says on some occasions protesters have banged heavily on his
office doors, forcing him to lock them -- making it impossible for him
to conduct business.

He said he has also had eggs thrown at his windows and human feces
smeared against his door.

Most protests are now attended by police.

Fahey said the giveways have been peaceful. "We haven't had picket
signs or anything. We've just been serving food outside his place.''

Vancouver Network of Drug Users (VANDU) organized one protest outside
Rositch's office in September but a member of the group said Wednesday
they haven't organized any since.

Frank Gilbert, community affairs coordinator for the Downtown Eastside
Residents Association, said his group has not participated in the
recent protests but he understands why some do, since the Alliance has
opposed services like social housing and addiction services.

"It's people's homes that are being affected by the things that come
out of this group," he said. "If you're going to attack people's basic
living rights, you have to expect that."

When told Rositch had been the victim of vandalism and harassing phone
calls, Gilbert said that is not something his group would support.
"That sounds like intimidation," he said.

Taking Rositch's place as spokesman for the association is Richard
Lee, a lawyer who often works at the provincial courthouse on Main
Street.

"I certainly feel for Bryce, what he's gone through," said
Lee.

Lee, who lives outside Vancouver, said he hopes there won't be
protests at his home or business. "[But] if there is a price to be
paid to be the spokesperson, I am committed to the cause and am
prepared to pay that price," he said. 
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