Optional "free-speech zones" and 950+ security cameras during Games

[mr.x]

‘Free-speech’ zones to be in place for Olympics

By Darah Hansen, Canwest News Service
July 7, 2009 7:36 PM

Protesters who take to the streets during the 2010 Olympic Games will not be interrupted by authorities so long as the demonstrations remain “peaceful” and law-abiding, the head of the Games’ integrated security unit said.

In fact, police are working to establish special “free-speech” zones in the city, similar to what was done in Quebec City during the Francophonie Summit last year.

“It [the free-speech area] was well used, at least it was when I walked past,” said security unit assistant commissioner Bud Mercer, who introduced the idea at a security briefing before Vancouver city council Tuesday.

Mercer said the proposed Vancouver zones would give protesters a safe and visible stage to be seen and “well heard.”

“People who are involved in lawful protest frankly don’t have to use it. That is their decision,” he added.

Among other security details released, Mercer said more than 900 security cameras have been rented in order to monitor public activities around Olympic venues.

None of the cameras will remain after the Games.

“We don’t own them and frankly we don’t want them,” he said.

In addition, another 50 to 70 security cameras will be installed along the Granville entertainment strip and other downtown areas that will host various outdoor events during the Games.

Whether those cameras — purchased at a cost of about $2 million — remain post-Games will require a decision by council.
© copyright (c) CNS Olympics




Call for constitutional committment

By BOB MACKIN, 24 HOURS

COPE Coun. Ellen Woodsworth is challenging Mayor Gregor Robertson - who chairs the Vancouver Police Board - and council to endorse the Coventry Declaration.

Delegates at last month's Play the Game sport and society conference in Coventry, England agreed to ask Canadian governments, VANOC and the RCMP to commit to guarding freedom of expression and security of the person during the 2010 Winter Olympics. The declaration was a reaction to plainclothes Vancouver 2010 Integrated Security Unit members approaching anti-Olympics activists at their homes and near their workplaces.

"(Vancouver) has many people that have fled countries where they don't have the right of freedom of expression and I don't want us to be reduced to a city that behaves as Beijing did during the Olympics," Woodsworth said.
Click here to find out more!

The Chinese capital declared three parks protest zones during the 2008 Summer Games. No permits were issued and two senior citizens who asked to protest were jailed.

Protest zones - or "free speech areas" - are planned near the Pacific Coliseum and Vancouver Olympic and Paralympic Centre, which are in civic parks.

Woodsworth said it is a coincidence that her motion is on the agenda for Tuesday's meeting, which includes an update on security planning.






Vancouver Olympics to have 900-plus security cameras around venues

Vancouver Sun
July 7, 2009 6:37 PM

VANCOUVER — More than 900 security cameras will be used to monitor public activities around Olympic venues during the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver, the head of the Games' integtrated security unit said.

But none of the cameras will remain after the Games, said RCMP assistant commissioner Bud Mercer.

"We don’t own them and frankly we don't want them," Mercer told Vancouver city council in a security briefing.

The 900-plus cameras operated by the ISU will be in addition to 50 to 70 security cameras the Vancouver police will install along the Granville entertainment strip and other downtown areas that will host various outdoor events during the Games.

Whether those cameras — purchased at a cost of $2 million — remain post-Games will require a decision by council.
© Copyright (c) The Vancouver Sun

[zivan56]

I don't see why they announced this, as it just raises suspicion and hurts their image even more...not to mention angering free speech advocates.
This will probably be linked with the Beijing games and their governments policies over there.

[clooless]

So what happens if you protest outside a "free speech zone"? Or are they simply there as a convenience?

Last time I checked all of Canada was a "free speech zone", not just some tiny corner.

[Distill3d]

Perhaps they could've used a different wording for these selected areas like "Protest Zones". It's making us (Vancouver, and Canada) look like we don't care about human rights. Perhaps it could even be misconstrued that you'll be arrested if you decide to say anything outside of these areas, and thats not the message we want to be sending the world.

[mr.x]

Originally Posted by clooless

So what happens if you protest outside a "free speech zone"? Or are they simply there as a convenience?

Last time I checked all of Canada was a "free speech zone", not just some tiny corner.

^ if you read the article, or even just the topic title, it's there as convenience.



But lets face it, a lot of stupid is probably going to happen next year...I wouldn't mind if we toughened up.

[Yume-sama]

Protest zones, eh?

Maybe they are just following the Democratic National Conventions lead.

There will be an awful lot of stupidity happening, hopefully nothing too horrible and inconvenient.

[johnjimbc]

It wasn't just the Democratic National Convention. The Republican National Convention under Bush during his second term campaign was the first to institutionalize the siphoning of free-speech into little fenced in segments of space miles from the actual event . . . just one of many post-911 carving away at freedoms one used to take for granted in the US. But it is true every convention of either major US party has followed suit since that time.

Either way, I have mixed feelings about the concept. I understand the need for security, but something about shunning the people off to little corners to speak their minds "in private" seems somewhat counter-productive to maintaining a healthy free society.

[twoNeurons]

protests are okay. riots are not. That's why they have these zones... if problems arise from not-so-peaceful protesters...

[clooless]

Originally Posted by mr.x

^ if you read the article, or even just the topic title, it's there as convenience.

Wow, my reading comprehension really sucks today. I don't recall that the original topic mentioned "optional".

Anyway...

But lets face it, a lot of stupid is probably going to happen next year...I wouldn't mind if we toughened up.

I am not worried about honest protests. It's the "Riot 2010" shit disturbers and anarchists that worry me. I mean, what is their agenda besides causing crap?

[s211]

Originally Posted by mr.x

“We don’t own them and frankly we don’t want them,” he said.

I wish we owned them and frankly I want them.

[Phil McAvity]

^It sounds like you've never heard of a book called "1984".

[Yume-sama]

Originally Posted by Phil McAvity

^It sounds like you've never heard of a book called "1984".

Was based on modern day London, wasn't it?

[s211]

Originally Posted by Phil McAvity

^It sounds like you've never heard of a book called "1984".

Get your hearing checked.

[Distill3d]

Originally Posted by s211

I wish we owned them and frankly I want them.

While I agree with you in principle, I disagree with keeping them up along Granville. As security cameras would be an additional asset to fighting crime, they would be best served in high crime areas.

[osirisboy]

aww too bad we werent buying the cameras and keeping them permanently.

[Metro-One]

Like any one else here i am a little torn in this issue as well.

To me it should be treated as follows:

We all have the right to peaceful protests, but protesting does not put one above the law. If anyone becomes violent or begins vandalizing private/public property then they are breaking the law and should be stopped.

[mr.x]

Olympics security head warns of possible violent clashes at Games
RCMP official tells Vancouver council that's why $1b security costs, meetings with activists taking place

By Daphne Bramham, Vancouver Sun columnist
July 8, 2009

VANCOUVER — The head of 2010 Olympics security warned this week that Vancouver and Whistler might be the sites of violent demonstrations and clashes with police.

It's part of the reason that Olympic security is expected to cost $1 billion, which will cover the cost of leasing 900 security cameras along the fences surrounding Olympic venues and a security force that will include 7,000 police, 5,000 private security officers and 4,500 Canadian Armed Forces personnel, Bud Mercer, the RCMP assistant commissioner who heads the Integrated Security Unit, told Vancouver city council this week.

It's also one of the reasons that Mercer uses to justify police visiting known activists at their homes, offices and even interviewing their friends, neighbours and family. He says that it's aimed at establishing relationships with protesters and helping them to plan peaceful and lawful demonstrations.

One way the police hope to keep protests under control is by getting activists to agree to use one of three or more "free-speech zones," which will be set up.

None of this sits well with Alissa Westergard-Thorp, a member of the Olympic Resistance Network, who is one of the 20 or so activists that police have approached. She calls it harassment and intimidation and rejects any suggestion that private meetings with them will do any good at all.

As for the free-speech zones, she says, Canadians have a right to free speech, free association and the right to publicly protest.

Westergard-Thorp also says she can't understand why city councillors are asking police about how the protests will be handled since it's up to them to set the rules.

You can listen to parts of her interview with Vancouver Sun columnist Daphne Bramham by clicking on the following links:


http://www.vancouversun.com/audio/Olympics1.mp3

http://www.vancouversun.com/audio/Olympics2.mp3

http://www.vancouversun.com/audio/Olympics3.mp3




Voice of Reason
July 08, 2009 - 10:12 PM


"Free Speech", we all have freedom to comment, blog, rally & do things in a peaceful & non confrontational manner. You can tell we have freedom of speech. Just check out the comments that people post. Ha-ha. If I am at the Olympics having a good old time, I don't need some demonstrators blurting stuff out in my face. If people want to hear your message, they will rally around those designated Free Speech Areas. Otherwise, you are no better than annoying telemarketers constantly calling you, even if you politely asked them not to call you.

[mrjauk]

Originally Posted by mr.x

^ if you read the article, or even just the topic title, it's there as convenience.



But lets face it, a lot of stupid is probably going to happen next year...I wouldn't mind if we toughened up.

I think that sounded better in the original German (or was it Mandarin, or Burmese?).

The whole idea of "free speech" zones is anti-democratic on its face. It's an insult to a democratic society. There are laws already on the books that govern when the line has been crossed from legitimate protest to illegitimate disturbance of the public peace, which seem to have served this country well for going on 142 years and I see absolutely no reason why they can't and/or won't serve us adequately when the Olympics come to town.

It's ironic that despite being on opposite ends of the ideological spectrum, there is an inherently symbiotic relationship between the anarchist morons and the quasi-fascist plutocrats.