Direct Action : Ann Hansen and the Squamish Five (2002) - the fifth estate

From 2002 our profile of the Squamish Five. Direct Action, or the Squamish Five as dubbed by the media, was a group of self-proclaimed 'urban guerillas,' active in the 1980s. These activists were not motivated by any political ideology but rather had become frustrated with traditional methods of activism which they saw as inefficient and futile. The group was implicated in a series of spectacular bombings which made them both wanted outlaws and symbols of protest. Their first target was B.C. Hydro, which had come under fire for spraying pesticides. Second, they bombed Litton Systems, a manufacturer of American cruise missile components. Unfortunately, this operation went horribly wrong; bombs went off before all employees could be evacuated. Ten employees were injured, some seriously. Third, the group bombed Red Hot Video, a pornographic video store which carried overly violent films. Eventually, the group was captured by police in a dramatic confrontation and all were sent to jail. Their sentences varied from six years to life, although all were out of prison by the early 1990s. Twenty years later, Ann Hansen, perhaps the toughest and most committed of them all, reflects on the decisions they made and the consequences that arose.
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About the fifth estate : For four decades the fifth estate has been Canada's premier investigative documentary program. Hosts Bob McKeown, Gillian Findlay and Mark Kelley continue a tradition of provocative and fearless journalism. the fifth estate brings in-depth investigations that matter to Canadians - delivering a dazzling parade of political leaders, controversial characters and ordinary people whose lives were touched by triumph or tragedy.

[@MissNebulosity]

"the helicopter seemed to be HOOVERING above us" LMAO

[@ROMSradio]

HOOVER

[@primesspct2]

i laughed at that one too

[@chupacabra1765]

It was rather appropriate actually. They were about to get "hoovered" up by the police, like an industrial vacuum picking up a feather.

[@MissNebulosity]

@@chupacabra1765 🤣

[@drabtrash]

John Edgar Hoover (January 1, 1895 - May 2, 1972) was an American law enforcement administrator who served as the first Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). He was appointed director of the Bureau of Investigation - the FBI's predecessor - in 1924 and was instrumental in founding the FBI in 1935, where he remained director for another 37 years until his death in 1972. Hoover built the FBI into a larger crime-fighting agency than it was at its inception and instituted a number of modernizations to police technology, such as a centralized fingerprint file and forensic laboratories. Hoover also established and expanded a national blacklist, referred to as the FBI Index or Index List. Later in life and after his death, Hoover became a controversial figure as evidence of his secretive abuses of power began to surface. He was found to have routinely violated the very laws the FBI was charged with enforcing,[2] to have used the FBI to harass political dissidents, to amass secret files for blackmailing high level politicians,[3] and to collect evidence using vigilantism and many other illegal methods.[4] Hoover consequently amassed a great deal of power and was in a position to intimidate and threaten others, including multiple sitting presidents of the United States.[5] .......So the helicopter which "hovered" above them was also "Hoovering "above them. or "surveilling" above them. Linguistic connections are pretty neat eh?

[@nohandle62]

There is no courage in bombing innocent people. That woman is deluded.

[@molliwilson5639]

I totally agree.. no courage .

[@sherryjohnston1084]

She really seems to be quite proud of herself. Go figure

[@LisaRichards_123]

The woman is clearly a narcissist, self inflating every stupid thing she’s ever done.

[@chupacabra1765]

I find her quite the opposite. She's the only one who had the guts to come out of the dark and explain her actions and take responsibility for it. The rest crawled away and scurried into their holes.

[@gordoncampbell-qs8kj]

@@chupacabra1765 She's not explaining ahe's BRAGGING

[@Tswift63]

I'm angry..psycho needs to.bsck to. Jail let the 0thers out ..

[@dinkster1729]

@@gordoncampbell-qs8kj Her actions back in 1982 also prevent her from doing good works today because she's afraid of being jerked back into prison. Anne Hansen is on parole for life.

[@catherinecole3978]

So glad that I was able to avoid, 'looney-tune' patrol in the Sixties & Seventies no matter how disaffected I may have felt @ times: The Manson Family, The Weathermen, Jim Jones, various 'swamis', Scientology, even the Hare Krishna had their darker side according to George Harrison's ex-wife, Pattie Boyd. And, of course, the nutty So-called Squamish 5 who should still be in jail!! There is a reason why the expression: 'Those who don't learn from the past are bound to repeat it'. Liberation comes when we allow each individual to think for themelves rather than to be brain-washed by dubious ideologies...

[@felixbaxter352]

Good thing you stayed square.

[@glennbeadshaw727]

Good now go and get your vaccinations

[@Strollmanx]

​​@@felixbaxter352 Not everyone can be a rebel like you.

[@Strollmanx]

To be in the middle of it and not to surrender to it at that highly impressionable age is impressive. That type of self awareness usually only comes with time, if at all.

[@Yosetime]

I guess life in prison is not life in prison. And is in fact just a slap on the wrist. The Litton explosion victims should sue them for their injuries.

[@Tswift63]

💯..absolutely..class action..yes

[@girvanherman7939]

This woman is speaking like she has the right to do what she did. Smh

[@flyinspirals]

Most people are sure they're doing right, even when their actions clearly have grave consequences. Not just these people.

[@elsiebotes362]

always target the democracies,never a word about the fascist dictatorships-can you imagine them pulling these stunts in north korea or moscow ?

[@edoboleyn]

25:26 "What they did took an enormous amount of courage." Oh yeah, nothing more courageous than filling a truck with dynamite and threatening to detonate it from a distance safe to yourself. And they really never considered someone might get hurt? Five heads together couldn't elicit the glimmer of that threat? They must be denser than the brick they blew into that guy's back.

[@tholiez]

Mere C read the book "Direct Action" might change your view.. they cased that building for a long time to avoid casualties... it was very sad that a man was in the building but it wasn't intended. I think they had guts. Read the book. One of my favorite read!

[@MasKistershi]

They could have hurt people even if the space was evacuated fully because it was by a busy road side. Cars could have driven past, even at that time of night. And in the fires, firemen could have been injured. They were just plain lucky that no one was hurt worse or died.

[@SuperStrik9]

Agreed they were cowards. Idiot woman praises the FLQ as well smh. Taking politicians hostage and murdering them always works smh. These far leftists only care about themselves. Self absorbed little rich kids playing revolutionary. Pathetic. Idiots like that woman should be dropped off in North Korea if they wanna see real communism. Maybe they'll finally realize how good they had it.

[@quickchris10comcast]

I know, and she kept saying ``we never intended to hurt anyone . . .only property -'' which seems like a lie given all those guns. I think eventually they would have planned to hurt someone, or at least have a shootout with police.

[@squatch545]

@@quickchris10comcast Cops are always hurting people, but that doesn't seem to bother you.

[@BajaSunrise]

And when it was all said and done, what did they accomplish? Nothing. I suspect that deep down, they all feel a sense of pride at playing the roles of Bonnie and Clyde.

[@squatch545]

They stopped the Chekeye Dunsmuir power plant for months, and Lytton industries eventually stopped producing cruise missles. Mission accomplished.

[@drabtrash]

​@@squatch545 and the Red Hot Video chain was forced into economic hardship along with legal battles which eventually took them out. ..so there's another win.

[@mirandaaskew]

I THINK ANN HANSEN SPOKE QUITE FRANKLY AND ARTICULATELY ABOUT HOW SHE FEELS.

[@MzMuFfiN420]

....hoovering?

[@themirrorsofmymind]

Verrrooooooooooooommmmmmm!!!!!!

[@ke018co1]

How do you just happen to "stumble on storage sheds of dynamite"?

[@lennarthagen3638]

This happens all the time dont u know this?

[@mirandaaskew]

There are storage sheds of explosives at lumber camps and construction sites. Nowadays, there might be video cameras.

[@SuperBentley55]

i have known about these sheds for years

[@allytrudie864]

Easy in Vancouver, just go into the mountains and there are sheds of dynamite everywhere. Quite literally all over the place. We get snow, ya know?

[@contentangel2131]

miss hansen isn't in prison?

[@dinkster1729]

She is on parole for life so she has to watch her step.

[@brianallison1913]

It is a miracle that guy survived that blast. 500 lbs of dynamite going off while you are in a confined space with it. Crazy

[@quincee3376]

Life in prison is meaningless in Canada.

[@davide.b8027]

Ever watched Dear, Zachary? That taught me a lot about the Canadian judicial system

[@quincee3376]

@@davide.b8027 no. Ive never heard of it.

[@NxDoyle]

Why is footage from the 80s in black and white? Surely Canada had colour way before.

[@NxDoyle]

SPPV I hope there's an open mic near you.

[@dreasmom2789]

SPPV lol.I love cleaver people

[@NxDoyle]

Kathryn Ellison Cleavering people?

[@tanyaburt4759]

Kathryn Ellison cleaver people??? As opposed to hatchet people?? Lmao

[@conlinbryant5037]

They do this with MLK and Malcom X, purposefully use black and white photos to represent history that is actually more relaxant than they want you to believe.

[@crandall6484]

Thank you for your help Anne hsnsen as you are very smart

[@user-wickedflower]

Its appalling she has no remorse whatsoever shes proud of herself in the interview. She says shes not a terrorist! Wtf.

[@karencrozier7253]

Yep, she's glorifying herself and her cohorts. Guns, bombs, explosives all add up to terrorism.

[@girvanherman7939]

Yup.

[@pete3050]

500 lbs of dynamite, of course you are going to hurt people

[@arnoldromppai5395]

why, much more then 500lbs is used in one big bed rock high way cut blast. every day

[@melkennedy4195]

Why cant we get some serious protesting against animal abuse?? That is what I would like to see!

[@macylou8884]

What about child physical and sexual abuse.? I think the only people in prison should be people who are violent against the most vulnerable. Children, animals, handicapped and elderly. In no particular order, violence is violence.

[@NxDoyle]

Mel Kennedy Surely that kind of activism lies with you. If you want it, do it.

[@shammydammy2610]

It's out there, have you missed it?

[@biggseye]

I think every one of these 5 need a high powered rifle bullet between the eyes.

[@NxDoyle]

William Fitzgerald Is that a bit of emotive hyperbole or do you really think that way?

[@chupacabra1765]

They watched too much Hogan's Hero's when they were young.

[@mpv8mugambi]

hmm i find a van full with dynamite ,after a bomb threat ,...the last thing i would do is to open a door?

[@notg5121]

Why is she out of jail?

[@mirandaaskew]

She served her time.

[@dinkster1729]

@@mirandaaskew She's on parole for life. It doesn't make much sense to keep her jail if she's not a danger to society. It's also expensive.

[@antwan37]

I had never seen a punk rocker with a moustache. I guesss there really is a first time for everything.

[@OffTheWagons]

Antonio Ferrer GG and Merle Allin both had them at points. I knew a few who had them personally, and beards.

[@domenic1165]

And how did any of this change anything???

[@RowanWarren78]

I agree. I am a feminist, but the radicals and militants get all the press.

[@domenic1165]

MrsPoodle78. Unless You're Zarna Joshi lol

[@gabrielcox3167]

I think they just do it to get a rush.

[@squatch545]

The Cheekeye Dunsmuir power plant was delayed for months, and Lytton industries eventually stopped producing cruise missle parts. I'd say mission accomplished.

[@harrickvharrick3957]

36:34.. great bands !

[@hildaheadge8213]

Her responses are so cavalier, with no remorse. 😢

[@arnoldromppai5395]

that good

[@debbiestevens8478]

They should have blown up Monsanto...

[@JeffreyAllan]

And HAARP and CERN

[@jennymisteqq695]

And Bayer who couldn’t sell blood that hadn’t been tested for HIV in the US. So they sold it in Europe and Africa. Unsurprisingly, a lot of that blood was tainted and people got AIDS.

[@bonniewilliams5181]

And they let you out?

[@georginapaul3554]

Not a shred of remorse ...... I'm not comfortable with psycho babble labelling .... so .... will simply say that Ms.Hansen presents as an extremely selfish woman with zero personal insight. And maybe that zero insight is how Ms.Hansen is able to live with herself.

[@quickchris10comcast]

And she rides off on the gray horse of death from the four horses of the apocalypse.

[@creatrixZBD]

so your secret is... righteousness? Probably works as well as any other sleep aid..

[@MFKR696]

That accounts for most radical Leftists. They consider having a peaceful dialog as "playing the enemy's game." Nothing has really changed in that regard, considering that certain University professors hate dialog so much that they would rather hit people over the head with metal things than talk to them like normal people. Militant Hyper-Leftism is a cancer. You cannot expect people who espouse to be proud Communists to be rational in any way. More people have been killed in the name of Communism than for any other ideology, and modern-day Antifa types talk like they're gearing up for a war. You don't win people over by threatening them.

[@squatch545]

@@MFKR696 And the radical right would rather murder people by running over them with vehicles, shooting them, or bombing them. I'll take the 'radical leftists' any day.

[@sonofagun7988]

Young and wild... Hyper hormones

[@keeper78p]

Ok.....WTF... I’ve read a bunch of comments and admit, not all.... and gave up........which gal did this dude used to be?.....i just trying to figure out the characters is all....

[@onedrivecloud8028]

haha she said "hoovering" instead of "hovering"

[@dreasmom2789]

onedrive cloud Thats Canadas way. Its like inEngland an elevator is called a lift. Or a sweater is called a jumper.

[@MasKistershi]

It just the accent. She said "hovering" but the accent made it sound like "hoovering".

[@chrismcguinness1908]

onedrive cloud Its all that cocaine she's hoovered up! Gone to her head

[@tycoulter1541]

I’m Canadian and I don’t say “hoovering” 😂

[@molliwilson5639]

Hovering not hoovering

[@adamsmith275]

34:00 ...Ana Maria Tremonti: ..."the Media didn't get the political message"... I got a big laugh after that... "objective" journalistic statement...

[@notg5121]

You like, like, you know like, you know, like, like..... Umm utterances of a pot head

[@cherrywarr936]

and she's being all celebrated and paraded around college campuses encouraging OTHER people to do the same or worse

[@tholiez]

The book about their whole story is one of my whole time favorite! Inspiring actually!

[@Jessica-zm9bs]

Line Thomas all time favourite? Lol

[@pikeman80]

@@Jessica-zm9bs Better than cops or military.

[@cassiusdio1138]

Too bad the tv didnt set off the dynamite...

[@LisaRichards_123]

Stealing people’s ID and their cars. Yeah, idiot, you’re really helping people. NOT.”

[@jerrson9020]

I bet they wish they had the race card instead

[@crandall6484]

Dad enjoyed arne hansens tea too from saltspring he was very nice to arne hansen as Scott Randal liked the society of the trees

[@crandall6484]

Anne is very pretty.

[@spideywhiplash]

They should of gave the person a sentence of life without parole that decided to play that horrible crappy 80s punk rock music in the background. Argh!

[@stevekays6029]

strange how they got so obsessed with Lytton when there are hundreds of companies, or organizations which are just as bad or much worse !

[@dkorleone]

This was at the height of the arms race where there were daily protests happening at Litton industries

[@Sayerdify]

What's with the super close up of this woman as she reminisces in the beginning? It was very unflattering , not to mention unpleasant for us viewers.

[@jumpfart666]

it shows her eyes

[@Hoppenoffer]

Sorry for security guard. But he failed to evacuate the building

[@guillermomontoyo]

they wuz smokn drugs

[@girvanherman2111]

Whyvare these people laughing and smiling about doing illegal stuff like its a joke?

[@benandemmasmom]

January 6. Proud Boys were proud.

[@primesspct2]

That lady saying the bombing took courage! How dare her, it was such a cowardly action! You blow someone up with dynamite, brave?! no way! It makes me sick she is lecturing to young people in college. Unless her message is COMPLETELY nonviolent , and in fact address the violence and pain she caused.

[@drintx5734]

29:50 lady your feelings DONT MEAN ANYTHING. What you ‘see’ is relevant !

[@PosiXMosh]

Hippie punching from the many of the people that cheered on the invasion of Iraq... seems a little incongruous methinks.

[@flyinspirals]

Posi X Mosh ? Do you think ecological activists supported that or any other war? You'd be misinformed. That's kind of crazy.

[@elsiebotes362]

you never understood the word hippie methinks

[@christinemoore8455]

It was terrorism

[@derekweinert7943]

My comment is meaningless

[@shellyslioneyes]

LOL...ALL comments are meaningless...they are only opinions.

[@mastercleanseNOTdiet]

Yet it is truly *THE* best comment . . . . . maybe it's not "meaningless" if it made me laugh & smile really big :0)

[@russellmartinkenny5796]

Canada did not have colour TV in the 1980's?

[@dkorleone]

We still don't have colour TV in canada

[@somyod2u]

The arrogance displayed by this woman is simply breathtaking. Her and her friends, in common with most of those who ' lean to the left', show a contempt for working people.

[@prestonincairns]

How's that "I'd love to have a Fascist for a Leader" thingy working out for you?

[@MrSchmolko]

nut for working people...for those prostituting their bodies from 9 to 5, slaving.

[@molliwilson5639]

Wow! Boy has Lee Lakemon changed ! YIKES !

[@lars69420]

That's adorable. Canada justice system is a joke.

[@conlinbryant5037]

What, should they've been sent to a concentration camp like they did in the USSR?

[@Spudst3r]

They didn't kill anyone, 8 years is appropriate for injuring somebody. Especially when the crime was done explicitly trying not to hurt people, but did.

[@HarrieWare]

hoovering

[@timgodau2839]

Change can come through the bureaucratic process. Violence is not the answer. Rarely and occasionally The true hero’s can be found in boardrooms filled with people who have spent years battling to truly make difference.

[@user-el7rf9fb8f]

Which is why there's been such a remarkable redistribution of wealth since Thatcher and Reagan initiated this latest cycle of change; now, all us true heroes have multiple residences, private jets and luxury yachts. And with remarkably little violence!

[@purplesnails22]

I'm a militant socialist. To the point where the party I am a member of in the UK was formerly known as "Militant" but we never used weapons. We have and had the theory and class experience to know that our best weapon is our collective labour power. We led and won a fight against the poll tax not by bombing but by mass non-payment. It was totally non-violent and it was supported by masses of ordinary people. This was one of many actions we took. Now we are an international movement who are responsible for $15 an hour minimum wage.

[@Lisa1111]

Is there an official "handbook"?

[@Lisa1111]

It is now 2023 and we are closer to extinction than ever. What have you done since? Curious.

[@Jessica-zm9bs]

“She grew up in the small town of Ontario” lol Ontario is a whole province 🤦🏻‍♀️

[@gwenscott535]

You quoted wrong "She grew up in small town Ontario" means she grew up in a small town in Ontario.

[@nickiewilson9134]

There's nant town's in the province of Ontario,my friend here on Vancouver Island cane rom Sudbury,my husband from Niagara Fall's. I retired from Vancouver in the 90's my BF planted his pot at the end of Squamish logging roads,for 3 yrs.❤

[@quincee3376]

You misheard her.

[@mr.h4714]

They all look 40 Not in their 20s... When they were getting out of back of van

[@joshuas.8239]

I was thinking the same thing

[@tommyfoley462]

I would never of thought about surveys to steal I'ds wow

[@dinkster1729]

Now, you just hack a file, right?

[@tommyfoley462]

@@dinkster1729 bet there is a lot of this going on that we don't even have a clue about.the dorkie looking lady is pretty isnt she🤣

[@1rclife184]

My grandfather was an engineer at litton systems from the 70s thru early 90s . The bomb only damaged offices. never effected production

[@douggramlich7832]

That’s doesn’t’make it all better’…

[@Azariachan]

If someone today did this to Nestle or Monsanto, I'd cheer them on.

[@BradFalck-mn3pc]

Sad chapter of Canada's history 😢

[@jimbodanssondodge1011]

normal leftist,,,doing exacly what they condamne

[@funkhc]

nice

[@cfcreative1]

I think overall journalism in Canada is ok but the tone of voice of most tv and radio broadcasters just makes me turn off. It is almost like they have a coach telling them ok act shocked no act sad no act appalled ok good now start..... That is why now I only listen to UK BBC podcasts. They could be discussing anything politics, crime, money, charity and they do it with a concerned and interested but detached way which makes it much more enjoyable.

[@Spudst3r]

I dunno what you're talking about, this whole doc sounded extremely concerned and interested, but detached.

[@cfcreative1]

@@Spudst3r concerned is an opinion

[@johnhammink2716]

Almost zero consequences. Apparently zero accountability. Nothing to see here, folks.

[@TheSlimSlime]

When nonviolent protest is ignored by a corrupt government what should be done? I don't think this was the case in the above video but I'm curious as to what people believe would be the solution.

[@juswuzz8929]

N Field out of all these comments, yours makes most sense. For someone to say (as they did above) they hate this type of violence and these terrorists should b shot dead in the street, simply made no sense. I loathe violence, but the situation is so vile....what DO we do. I admire the concept, but hurting people is never acceptable. Guns are never ok. But what is the solution. Seriously!! Thankyou

[@juswuzz8929]

@William Cairnie-Richardson thanks. instead of spewing more hate (which is so tempting but utterly counter-productive) u offer an alternative that is SO possible and could open a discussion with passionate people who r simply looking for a sution. the second violence and destruction is used, a line is crossed, u lose credibility and authenticity and hurt people into the bargain thanks for comments!! ☺

[@dinkster1729]

@@juswuzz8929 Don't fall for the virtue signalling. Get the right government elected. That's the solution.

[@trudyferguson1116]

Very interesting time in history. Interesting comments by police type on here. One quoted the definition of terrorism. The America’s were created by “terrorism” by your definition. Data bait site. Excellent documentary by fifth estate.

[@krm8494]

Thumbs down for the ads.

[@MrSchmolko]

sabotaging those that poison our water, like koch industries, is a kind of self defense.

[@bonnieyoung4037]

so true the last comment

[@taradeleeuw2344]

Still on the same back program

[@budnotu]

That's a guy, with orange hair.

[@crandall6484]

Anne and arne Hansen teach people a lesson

[@crandall6484]

Mi5 love this video

[@PeaceOverHate55]

She has ZERO REGRET

[@williamjoyner3759]

This is real!?

[@crandall6484]

Litton industries is a good employer

[@crandall6484]

People should not protest as big brother watches us

[@BibleBelieverUK]

Amazing how they, and woke warriors, claim they were not terrorists. Not “intentional terrorism” 😅😂

[@janfotheringham2533]

How is she out of jail if she got life?

[@crandall6484]

I miss you anne Hansen

[@remydavis1502]

So Canadian of these terrorists to “apologize”

[@CM-fk3or]

2:24 wait wut

[@johncurcio3621]

Ruined by awful commercials cutting in.

[@lizettewanzer8650]

??? What do you mean? I didn't get any ads...

[@alexanderraymund2950]

Honestly. I think they were justified sue me.

[@crandall6484]

I miss e old van police

[@arguewithatree4921]

Why is this woman still alive? Terrible human being. Peace through violence is a stupid theory.

[@adriennedunbar2197]

2

[@nifty1940]

Unrepentant delusional sociopaths. Whatever happened to "Two wrongs, don't make a right?" Life in prison doesn't seem unreasonable to me. (terrorists, and that's what they were and are). Look at how many are doing life for much less.

[@guillermomontoyo]

I guess Julie is attractive n stuff but Lee Lakeman uggg 😲

[@Cutlerypotato]

Bunch of dopers

[@taradeleeuw2344]

Isn’t that true

[@crandall6484]

Cindy is odd

[@crandall6484]

Anne Hansen Is nice

[@katiekate7838]

OH ky god! Stay in school kids! The world of delusion tricks the most deluded.

[@notg5121]

Punk band? Haaa.... Not even close, just crappy sounds