More fear and violence in the Downtown Eastside since Montreal gang moved in
Downtown Eastside residents and front-line workers say they feel like the neighbourhood has become more violent in the weeks since city officials removed tents from Hastings Street.
And some say they believe the displacement of “survival” or subsistence street dealers may have created a void being filled by more violent traffickers, including a street gang from Montreal called Zone 43 that has established itself in the community.
Sarah Blyth, executive director of the Overdose Prevention Society, said she is feeling the increased tension in the neighbourhood and has heard from others who say they feel less safe.
“Since the street sweeps, a bunch of chaos has ensued. … Anytime you create chaos in the Downtown Eastside, it seems like there’s violence attached to it because it destabilizes everything,” Blyth said. “Stirring up the issues in the Downtown Eastside made way for even more violent folks to come in.”
Dealers in the neighbourhood have traditionally been “substance users and local people who are part of the community in different ways,” Blyth said. “You upset the applecart too much, then violence erupts. It’s just something that happens. We’re not only dealing with overdoses, now we’re dealing with extreme violence.”
