Protesters Greet Olympic Torch Practise Run in Victoria

“OLYMPIC TORCH” CONFRONTED BY ANTI-OLYMPICS PROTEST AT ROYAL BANK LOCATION

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

VICTORIA, COAST SALISH TERRITORIES, MAY 21, 2009 – The Royal
Bank-sponsored “Olympic Torch Practice Run” was greeted at its first stop
by a “Practice Protest” in downtown Victoria this morning.

A prototype of the Olympic Torch is visiting five Victoria RBC locations
this week to “practice” for the Olympic Torch Relay, which will begin at
Mile Zero in Victoria on October 30, 2009. The “Olympic Torch Welcoming
Committee” wielded banners, signs, and noisemakers to “practice”
protesting the Olympic Torch relay.

“We’re here today because homeless people could be housed for a fraction
of what the Torch Relay is costing taxpayers,” said spokesperson Zoe
Blunt. “We’re here because First Nations peoples’ land rights are still
violated daily, social justice activists are facing increasing harassment
and surveillance, and our children and grandchildren will still be paying
for this extravagance years from now.”

Chief of Police Jamie Graham warned activists gathered inside the bank
that they would be arrested if they “defaced” property after one person
wrote “No Olympics on Stolen Land” on a banner made available for public
signing. Other members of the “Olympic Torch Welcoming Committee” were
expelled from the public celebrations inside RBC by Victoria police and
private security guards for carrying anti-Olympic signs drawn on
cardboard.

On the street outside the Fort and Douglas RBC location, protesters were
under the close surveillance of uniformed and plain-clothed police.

“We’re quite surprised that a group of 30 Victoria residents with
hand-painted banners, signs and one megaphone merited such a hefty
security presence”, said No 2010 Victoria organizer Tamara Herman. “We
could think of better ways of spending the $1 billion security bill for
the 2010 Olympics. Then again, we could also think of better ways of
spending the $500,000 that the City of Victoria has put aside for the
Torch Relay.”

RBC has received negative attention for its sponsorship of the 2010 Games
and its investments in Alberta's tar sands environmental disaster. No
2010 Victoria, a coalition of anti-Olympic activists and groups, is
organizing a campaign targeted the Torch Relay and its corporate sponsors.

For more information: Zoe Blunt, 250-885-8219
No 2010 Victoria: www.no2010victoria.net

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