Protesters threaten to target homes of Olympic officials

Last Updated: Wednesday, May 16, 2007 | 9:32 PM PT

CBC News

Anti-poverty protesters in B.C. are threatening to take their protest against the 2010 Olympics to the homes of Vancouver Olympic officials.

The protesters say the Olympics are pushing poor people out of their homes from Vancouver's Downtown Eastside.

David Cunningham of the Anti-Poverty Committee said the group plans to target the homes and businesses of VANOC officials.
(CBC)

Protest organizer David Cunningham says members of the Anti-Poverty Committee know where officials from the Vancouver Organizing Committee live and work and protesters will take their demonstration directly to them.

He said they will target the homes and businesses of VANOC officials and symbolically evict them.

"Well, writing letters to their homes and businesses isn't working, so we're going to take the protest and the anger of poor people to their businesses."

On Wednesday, police officers, RCMP and other security forces outnumbered a couple dozen protesters with the Anti-Poverty Committee who circled the building where VANOC officials were meeting. A fence was also put up around the entire perimeter of the building.

The demonstration didn't become violent, but in recent months there have been other incidents where protesters physically confronted VANOC executives at events.

Wednesday's anti-VANOC protest remained peaceful.
(CBC)

Vancouver police Const. Tim Fanning said the force plans to take the new threats seriously.

"We always have to play it safe," he said.

John Furlong, chief executive officer for the Vancouver Organizing Committee, said such tactics won't change the process. He said he will get extra security if needed to keep staff safe.

"We also have to be able to take care of our people."