Keep it classy Canada
Anti-Olympic protesters are clashing with police on the streets of Vancouver on the first full day of the 2010 Winter Games.
Vancouver Police say a group of more than 200 masked protesters have amassed in the downtown core, kicking and vandalizing cars and businesses.
Organizer Harsha Walia says there were several hundred protesters gathered in the downtown and witnesses say the windows of the HBC Olympic superstore were smashed.
Riot police in bright yellow vests moved in to break up the protest, and bicycle police have formed a line across one of the main streets in the downtown, and aerial cameras showed officers arresting some protesters.
The protesters, shouting obscenities and dressed in black, are marching up Georgia Street, pushing over mail boxes and newspaper boxes. At least one woman has been taken away by police.
The protesters appear to have abandoned all pretense of promoting any political agenda. Obscenities dominate their screams. A hooded protester determined to provoke the police fell down. As police moved in to hand cuff him, he pulled out a camera and started taking photos of the police. Police finally mobilized with batons and hard helmets.
A group of around 75 protesters broke off and turned down a side street. But they appeared lost and unsure what to do. Their lead drummer started up again. But the energy appeared to slip away. They began chanting "Our streets" but the chant quickly died down.
A bystander shouted out a comment. Four men in black tuques and black masks jumped on him. Other marchers pulled them off and they continued on their way. No police were around.
A group of 30 are now marching through the West End, after police picked off several stragglers. Some protesters dressed in black are slipping in alley ways and taking off their black clothes, stuffing them into knapsacks.
With reports from The Canadian Press
The Aftermath
Seven protesters were arrested and will likely be charged with assault and possession of a dangerous weapon after 200 anti-Olympic demonstrators marched through downtown Vancouver Saturday, smashing plate glass windows and overturning newspaper boxes.
Police say they recovered a bag with a hammer. One protester had a bicycle chain wrapped around his fist when he was arrested, police also say.
A criminal element mingled with the legitimate anti-Olympic protestors. "The criminal element apparently willing to wield anything that might cause damage or injury marched among about 200 legitimate protestors," police said in a statement released about an hour after police broke up their march.
"This group contained more than 100 masked people many of whom kicked and damage numerous parked cars. They used spray paint on cars and transit buses and tore down signs. They also clashed with members of the public and pedestrians who didn't support them," police said.
"The demonstration involved a number of anarchists, some of whom dress all in black and employ a tactic, called Black Bloc. This included a loosely organized group of thugs from central Canada known to attach themselves to any cause, travel to any event that attracts media coverage and promote anarchy wherever they go.
"Vancouver police respect the rights of those who wish to express their criticism but that does not give them right to commit crimes and jeopardize the public's safety," police say.
Representatives of the International Olympic Committee and Vancouver organizers jointly told a news conference they support protest as long as it is not violent.
"Where we draw the line and where I suspect Canadians draw the line is when people get violent," Mark Adams of the IOC told a daily briefing.
"The demonstrations I would characterize as being minor and dealt with properly," Mr. Adams told the briefing.
Renee Smith-Valaade of VANOC said organizers had confidence in current security plans.
Of the response to date, she said: "It has been swift and decisive and done in a way to respect those who would like to protest in a peaceful way."
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Vancouver Police say a group of more than 200 masked protesters have amassed in the downtown core, kicking and vandalizing cars and businesses.
Organizer Harsha Walia says there were several hundred protesters gathered in the downtown and witnesses say the windows of the HBC Olympic superstore were smashed.
Riot police in bright yellow vests moved in to break up the protest, and bicycle police have formed a line across one of the main streets in the downtown, and aerial cameras showed officers arresting some protesters.
The protesters, shouting obscenities and dressed in black, are marching up Georgia Street, pushing over mail boxes and newspaper boxes. At least one woman has been taken away by police.
The protesters appear to have abandoned all pretense of promoting any political agenda. Obscenities dominate their screams. A hooded protester determined to provoke the police fell down. As police moved in to hand cuff him, he pulled out a camera and started taking photos of the police. Police finally mobilized with batons and hard helmets.
A group of around 75 protesters broke off and turned down a side street. But they appeared lost and unsure what to do. Their lead drummer started up again. But the energy appeared to slip away. They began chanting "Our streets" but the chant quickly died down.
A bystander shouted out a comment. Four men in black tuques and black masks jumped on him. Other marchers pulled them off and they continued on their way. No police were around.
A group of 30 are now marching through the West End, after police picked off several stragglers. Some protesters dressed in black are slipping in alley ways and taking off their black clothes, stuffing them into knapsacks.
With reports from The Canadian Press
The Aftermath
Seven protesters were arrested and will likely be charged with assault and possession of a dangerous weapon after 200 anti-Olympic demonstrators marched through downtown Vancouver Saturday, smashing plate glass windows and overturning newspaper boxes.
Police say they recovered a bag with a hammer. One protester had a bicycle chain wrapped around his fist when he was arrested, police also say.
A criminal element mingled with the legitimate anti-Olympic protestors. "The criminal element apparently willing to wield anything that might cause damage or injury marched among about 200 legitimate protestors," police said in a statement released about an hour after police broke up their march.
"This group contained more than 100 masked people many of whom kicked and damage numerous parked cars. They used spray paint on cars and transit buses and tore down signs. They also clashed with members of the public and pedestrians who didn't support them," police said.
"The demonstration involved a number of anarchists, some of whom dress all in black and employ a tactic, called Black Bloc. This included a loosely organized group of thugs from central Canada known to attach themselves to any cause, travel to any event that attracts media coverage and promote anarchy wherever they go.
"Vancouver police respect the rights of those who wish to express their criticism but that does not give them right to commit crimes and jeopardize the public's safety," police say.
Representatives of the International Olympic Committee and Vancouver organizers jointly told a news conference they support protest as long as it is not violent.
"Where we draw the line and where I suspect Canadians draw the line is when people get violent," Mark Adams of the IOC told a daily briefing.
"The demonstrations I would characterize as being minor and dealt with properly," Mr. Adams told the briefing.
Renee Smith-Valaade of VANOC said organizers had confidence in current security plans.
Of the response to date, she said: "It has been swift and decisive and done in a way to respect those who would like to protest in a peaceful way."
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