Olympic protests

Several hundred angry protesters held up the Olympic torch on its passage around Victoria. Organizers were forced to pack up the torchbearers into vehicles and drive around the demonstrations, with the torchbearers missing their chance to run their 300 meter segments. The protesters are angry Canadians who are frustrated with a variety of issues, but "whatever opponents' specific objections to the Game are, it all comes down to money." Some are concerned about the financing, while others claim that the games are being held on stolen native land. Others object to sponsor RBC's involvement in Canadian oil sands development, or the environmental impact of building so much infrastructure.

Earlier in the evening, 400 protesters joined a "Zombie March" to the provincial legislature where a concert was planned by Vancouver Olympic Games. They walked in a New Orleans-style procession chanting, "Who's streets, OUR STREETS!" and "No Olympics on stolen native land!". One protester shouted, "This is what democracy looks like." An organizer with No 2010 Victoria states, "We oppose [the games] because we see homelessness as a bigger priority than a two-week parade, we think health services is a bigger priority," while others claim, "The games benefit very few people in the long run, and I just think it's a huge waste of money." Some activists say they were inspired by the Beijing Olympics protests, where it was demonstrated that the torch presents a useful podium for getting a message across the world.

Police claim the protests are fine unless they turn violent, so "safe assembly zones" have been created but protesters claim they don't plan to stay put. Several anti-Olympic groups are promising to protest not just the torch relay, but the Games themselves.

Source: http://www.thestar.com/olympics/article/719139--protesters-block-olympic-torch-relay

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2009/10/29/bc-olympic-flame-island-arrival.html