Anti-Olympic protesters burn 1992 Barcelona flag and vandalize countdown clock again

[mr.x]

Likened with a child's tantrum....get with the program, it's 2009. They simply won't stop until they ruin it for everyone, and there's a reason why Vancouver didn't have a public one-year-countdown celebration after what happened at the countdown clock unveiling and flag raising over the last two years.

And if anyone hasn't read one of the latest RCMP 2010 security reports, violent protest groups are the number one concern of the 2010 Games......you'd think they'd have a part in why the security budget is $1-billion.

And I also believe this is the fifth time the clock has been vandalized.



LOSERS. from ctv.







Anti-Olympic protestors light up the streets

KATIE HYSLOP
Globe and Mail Update

February 12, 2009 at 11:09 PM EST

Anti-Olympic protestors lit up the streets of downtown Vancouver during a protest parade Thursday night, carrying makeshift torches and setting fire to a 1992 Barcelona Summer Olympics flag.

Several hundred people participated in the march, which stopped outside of buildings belonging to Olympic sponsors such as the Hudson's Bay Company, CTV, and Canada Post. The protest focused on concerns about affordable housing in the city, native land use for Olympic venues, and the financial burden on taxpayers for the games.

Protesters also paint-bombed the Olympic clock, just as the demonstration ended.





Protesters mark the one-year 2010 countdown

Updated: Thu Feb. 12 2009 20:21:38
ctvbc.ca

Around 100 anti-Olympics protesters marked the one-year countdown to the 2010 Games with a noisy rally and march through downtown Vancouver on Thursday night.

The protest began with a rally in Victory Square around 7 p.m. and continued with a demonstration up West Georgia to Burrard, with marchers accompanied by police on bikes and motorcycles.

The group then wound down Burrard Street, ending up at the nearby Olympic Countdown clock in front of the Vancouver Art Gallery. Paint was then thrown at clock.

Traffic was disrupted in the area for about 40 minutes.

The clock has been a focus of several protests by the anti-Olympic network, who are made up of homelessness activists, first nations protesters, and anti-poverty groups.

[deasine]

They are the most stupid people ever. First Nations, out of all people, shouldn't even dare protest. I don't know how much of the olympics was devoted to showing First Nations culture.

Could you at least provide a link to your articles even if your not willing to wrap it in the quote tags... -___-"

[mmmatt]

wow, thats sad. Some people need to get a life...

[Stingray2004]

mr.x2: And if anyone hasn't read one of the latest RCMP 2010 security reports, violent protest groups are the number one concern of the 2010 Games......you'd think they'd have a part in why the security budget is $1-billion.

And if I continue to incessantly hear the NDP scream about the Olympic security budget, when they are themselves fanning the flames of their own left-wing flank to either peacefully or violently protest the 2010 Games while BC taxpayers are incurring substantial costs thereto, then NDP Party headquarters should be presented with a BC taxpayer's invoice for costs incurred at the end of the day.

Sorry for the rant. But sometimes enough is enough.

And somehow, I also agree with Colin Hansen's statement in the BC legislature today:

...the minister responsible for the Olympics said he thought “the NDP are the type of people that go to a 2-year-old’s birthday party and douse the candles”, according to the draft Hansard transcript.

Source: Georgia Straight, Matthew Barrows, author

http://www.straight.com/article-201522/c...-legislature-reaches-olympic-proportions

[SpongeG]

thats why there were so many helicopters flying over downtown tonight - I was wondering why
I saw the helicopter footage on the news tonight

no idea anything was going on - i passed the clock twice today - once just before and once after the protest i guess

the first time it was surrounded by a small handful of people and media

the next time )a couple hours later) there was no one there really

[windscar]

If we lived in the old Soviet Russia, these dolts would have been shipped off to a Siberia work camp years ago

[Stingray2004]

Putting everything into perspective, I recall these same bozos creating a similar ruckus prior to Expo 86. When Expo 86 opened in May and thereafter, nobody ever heard a peep from them anymore.

In that same context, a Strategic Counsel public opinion poll from yesterday should shed some further light on Canadian's attitudes toward the 2010 Games prior to opening day:

A year before the Olympic flame is lit in Vancouver, more than 75% of Canadians are proud to play host to the Games and are likely to follow them closely, while 20% of Vancouver residents say they will attend, according to a new poll.

The survey also suggests Canadians are looking beyond their traditional focus on hockey to embrace the aspirations of Canadian athletes in the gamut of Olympic disciplines.

"There's a high degree of interest and excitement about Vancouver 2010 a year out, and I think that's unusual," said Tim Woolstencroft, managing partner at the Strategic Counsel, which conducted the poll last week.

More than 80% of Canadians believe the Games will boost national pride and improve Canada's image around the world.

Source: Globe and Mail, Joe Friesen, author

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20090212.OLYMPICSPOLL12/TPStory/National

[Distill3d]

Originally Posted by windscar

If we lived in the old Soviet Russia, these dolts would have been shipped off to a Siberia work camp years ago

Originally Posted by mmmatt

wow, thats sad. Some people need to get a life...

the two best posts made so far!!

Originally Posted by Stingray2004

Putting everything into perspective, I recall these same bozos creating a similar ruckus prior to Expo 86. When Expo 86 opened in May and thereafter, nobody ever heard a peep from them anymore.

In that same context, a Strategic Counsel public opinion poll from yesterday should shed some further light on Canadian's attitudes toward the 2010 Games prior to opening day:

Source: Globe and Mail, Joe Friesen, author

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20090212.OLYMPICSPOLL12/TPStory/National

i must be in that 80% group. i think with the economic crisis we should be looking at the Olympics as something that is and will continue to create jobs for Canadians, and as a distraction to the escalating stresses we face.

[rather_draconian]

If this clock is always being vandalized, why not hire a security guard to watch it? I'm only half joking.

[Spork]

Anybody up for a pro-2010 protest to show these clowns that we can organize a larger one for the opposite cause?

[Yume-sama]

Originally Posted by Spork

Anybody up for a pro-2010 protest to show these clowns that we can organize a larger one for the opposite cause?

Good luck. Unfortunately your target audience has a job.

[wrenegade]

Why did they burn a 1992 Barcelona flag? That's so sad it's kinda funny.

[Yume-sama]

Originally Posted by awvan

Why did they burn a 1992 Barcelona flag? That's so sad it's kinda funny.

Vancouver 2010 flags are too expensive, and by buying one they'd be supporting the evil capitalist games



Also, I wonder if they realize how ironic it is to be able to protest a "Police State" without being stopped.

[DKaz]

Originally Posted by Yume-sama

Good luck. Unfortunately your target audience has a job.

Lol yah sorry we're too busy working or studying.

[sono65]

Bulldoze these shitty's in to the Burrard inlet already so we can actually enjoy the Olympics when they arrive instead of worrying about protests by uneducated, low-income bracket, communists ruining it for all of us.

[johnjimbc]

Hopefully the city immediately wiped up the clock paint - sounds like it was thrown. Having been painting my apartment this week, I am well aware that if you quickly wash things down no major damage is done .

Seriously, though, I saw the grand protestor parade down Georgia. Very rag-tag, of course, though they did have actual torches, which was unsettling knowing the crowd. Was wondering if the Bay Olympic clothing would get torched in a moment of "inspiration" by the noble warriors (dripping sarcasm, please don't misinterpret).

My very first thought was that the clock was going to get it again. Hope the city had the same obvious foresight. I may venture down over lunch and see.

Lastly, the only thing that really bugs me about this is this vague idea that any money spent on the Olympics was "stolen" from the poor and homeless. I mean, with that rationale, why not protest when they build new power grids or open a new ferry line or build new schools or improve the computer system at city hall - right? Every single item that "takes" money is suspect if you only live in one dimensional space.

[LotusLand]

Saw this over the inter web and found it funny. Atleast there are some pro games blogs out there

"As the Olympic festivities that were bestowed upon us from the god of Olympus himself Jacques Rogge began, another band of merry men and women began their own delusional quest. A quest bestowed upon them by old man Whistlin' Whiskey Jack.
Justify Full
From Victory Square to the Olympic Clock the masked menaced marched. Oh boy did they march and it ended up with a glorious resounding thud. Yes, the inevitable occurred people, they chose to vandalize the Olympic Clock with a paintball. Yawn... how original, that comes out of taxpayers wallets you know, but I highly doubt you have any regard for that.

They burned flags, wore masks, hurled slurs and it was all for naught. You see the public has now become immune to your childish ways. The shock value no longer exists. They see how you parade around town with covered faces, perhaps in fear that your neighbour will recognize you and call you out for the asshat that you are.

They see that you are merely mindless drones that have been brainwashed by the likes of the APC and other spin-offs of the poverty industry clowns.

You want to make a difference, start a foundation to help the working poor. Build them a house. Clothe them, feed them and nurture them. After all you seem to to "truly" care about the plight of the poor. Come on, there seems to be enough of you out there that care, right? Or perhaps you are just upset that you have no athletic ability and thus you're jealous of the Olympians. Or perhaps you resent the rich or perceived rich because they live a lifestyle that you can't attain because you choose not to work.

Whatever the case may be, we just don't care any more. I must say at least you didn't make any kids cry this time, oh wait it was at night so the kids were at home safe and sound. Oh well there always next time."

- Urban Dweller @ http://vancitybuzz.blogspot.com/2009/02/march-to-2010-begins.html

[Metro-One]

I have an even better idea, if these protestors are so noble for the homeless, instead of being destructive and annoying why don't they take their rag-tag army to the DTES and start cleaning up the streets? We could really use some man power to clean up this city and help the homeless. Instead of lighting torches and vandalizing the clock they could be washing/painting over graffiti, picking up all the trash off the street in the DTES, raising money through fundraisers and setting up soup shelters and beds for the homeless, etc... But that is the thing, doing such involves strong commitment and hard work, something the majority of these losers would not be interested in doing. I say it is time to call them at their own game, throw them some money, and tell them what you want them to do with it, and see what happens. These people don't really care for the homeless, they are just bored and want any excuse to protest and act retarded with minimal risk of being arrested.

[mr.x]

Does it worry anyone what these nutjobs might be capable of during the Games? I could quite see them trying to blockade the Lions Gate Bridge or the Sea to Sky highway....hell, maybe even domestic terrorism.

[Yume-sama]

Originally Posted by mr.x2

Does it worry anyone what these nutjobs might be capable of during the Games? I could quite see them trying to blockade the Lions Gate Bridge or the Sea to Sky highway....hell, maybe even domestic terrorism.

Maybe then we could show them what a police state *really* is.