Protest big part of the Olympics

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – It’s not all fun and games at these Olympics, as protesters intend to make their voices heard on opening day.  A clash between two groups of demonstrators took place in Downtown Vancouver.

Pro-Olympic supporters and anti-Olympic protestors crowded the route between the Vancouver Art Gallery and BC Place where the Opening Ceremony began early Friday evening.  Members of the two groups got confrontational, “explaining” their points of view. Passers-by cheered on the group supporting the Olympics while the anti-Olympics marchers get jeered.

Early Friday morning the torch was disrupted by protesters in the Downtown Eastside and was stalled for about a half hour.  That was the first major disruption since the torch arrived in the city, the route was changed as organizers were forced to make a slight adjustment. 

At Strathcona Park, Pivot Legal Society Executive Director John Richardson and crew waited for the torch to go by.  He says they don’t want to disrupt the route, but use it to get attention for their ‘Red-Tent Campaign.’  “We’re going to be deploying several hundred tents, up to 500 homeless people around Vancouver will bring attention to the issue of homelessness.”

It’s quite likely, people will actually see those tents around the city, homeless people camping in public spaces.  The purpose and goal of the campaign is to shame the federal government into funding a national housing strategy, with Canada being the only G8 nation that doesn’t have one.

The City Wide Housing Coalition and the Pivot Legal Society will also be joining the anti-games forces as will the Native Youth Warrior Movement.