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. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake