Olympic Torch Relay Expected to be Met by Protests

By James Keller (Canadian Press, October 25, 2009)

VANCOUVER, B.C. — It's an image fit for a cheesy horror flick: flaming torches meeting a crowd of zombies.

That could be the opening scene of the Canadian Olympic torch relay, which begins in Victoria on Friday and is expected to draw protesters along its 106-day route leading up to the opening of the Winter Games.

The international relay ahead of last year's Summer Olympics in Beijing was plagued by chaotic protests aimed at China's human rights record, including several attempts to grab the torch itself.

But groups planning to target the Vancouver 2010 torch run say they're planning peaceful demonstrations.

In Victoria, with the Olympic flame arriving on a plane from Greece just a day before Halloween, anti-Olympic groups are planning a street festival and a "zombie march" along Victoria's streets.

"It's a chance to dress up and be silly and do some street theatre, but it's also serious," says Zoe Blunt, one of the organizers of the event.

"We're doing this to assert our Charter rights. I think the whole world is going to be watching to see what happens here, since it is basically the first official day of the Games."

Protesters representing a variety of causes have said they'll be meeting the torch along the relay, from native groups and anti-poverty activists to civil rights advocates and opponents of Canada's seal hunt.

The Olympic Resistance Network has posted a note on the web titled "Extinguish the torch!" that calls on activists across the country to "oppose and resist" the relay, although it isn't explicitly advocating interfering with the torch run.

Protesters at previous Olympic events have resorted to shouting down speakers, notably at the launch of a cross-country trip of the "spirit train" last September.

At the event, in Port Moody, B.C., about 75 protesters repeatedly yelled though bullhorns and banged pots during speeches and musical performances.

The torch relay protests could be a taste of what to expect during the 17 days of the Olympics, and security will be high.

The RCMP-led Integrated Security Unit is in charge of guarding the flame and torchbearers along the route, while local police departments-which in many communities will also be the RCMP - are responsible for local security.

"The lawful protests are not a concern. When we enter into violent criminal protests, it is a concern for our team, and we will have contingency plans in place," says Cpl. Jen Allan of the security unit.

"We won't speak to what intelligence we're receiving, but a quick search of the Internet will show there are planned disruptions for the torch relay. We'll have to wait and see what those disruptions will look like."

Allan said several officers will be running alongside the torch and the convoy will receive an RCMP escort. The officers will be wearing Olympic-themed clothing and won't be readily identifiable as police.

The unit's security budget for the Olympic and Paralympic torch relays is $3.8 million, although Allan says that total doesn't include costs to local police departments.

The Victoria police department says it will set up an area for protesters - similar to the "safe assembly sites" planned for the Games in Vancouver - but activists have largely rejected the idea and don't plan on using the space.

The security unit has also been criticized for the way it's been gathering information about potential protests, with officers approaching activists along with their friends, family and neighbours.

There have also been concerns that bylaws against so-called guerrilla marketing will be used to eliminate protests and anti-Olympic signs - something police have insisted won't happen.

Chris Shaw of 2010watch, a long-time critic of Vancouver's Games, said what happens in Victoria and along the torch relay will set the tone for protests during the Games.

But he said it's up to the police to keep the peace.

"If they have the riot squad out and if they start enforcing every city bylaw and start arresting people, they will be showing us that in 2010, they intend to use the police powers that they have to make sure dissent is not visible," said Shaw.

"If they allow the demonstrations in Victoria to go ahead and they keep the peace, then I think they would be sending a much better message."

While the Beijing torch relay quickly became known for aggressive and sometimes violent protests, Shaw said it demonstrated that the torch presented an opportunity for activists.

"People correctly use the torch now to highlight their concerns," said Shaw.

"Keep in mind, the Olympic organizers are doing the same thing, they're trying to promote their brand, and it became really obvious last summer that you can use that same device to highlight your concerns that are not going so well in the Olympic host country."