Take back our City - Take back our Streets

The "Take back our City" public festival at the Vancouver Art Gallery on the opening day of the 2010 Olympics was a vibrant gathering of people assembled to protest in a "free-speech zone." Signs addressed issues that mattered to most British Columbians, regardless of whether they celebrated the Olympics or not. Topics ranged from the games' overall impact on the province: "Beautiful BC – scorched by the torch" "Thanks for the debt, environmental destruction & military-police state" and "Down with the corporate Olympiad, Up with our community centres, libraries and fire services"

To the issues of homelessness: "Wasted monies, waste $$$$$$$$ could have ended homelessness" as well as "End poverty – it's NOT a game" "Stop paying the rich, increase funding for programs" and "Five rings shackle us to debt"

As to the original intent of the games: "To promote the moral, physical, intellectual improvement of the town" Dr. W. Brookes (1850) Founding father of the modern Olympic games"

Published that morning in the Vancouver Sun was an article headlined: "Province to cut $10 million from Services. Ministry of Children and Family Development demands agency reductions by April 1."

The parade left Robson Square. People of all ages, race, sexual orientation, mothers with babies, people in wheelchairs. British Columbians from all walks of life.

Onlookers asked questions. Many waved, cheering encouragement.

Chants rang out: "No Olympics on Stolen native land" "This is what democracy looks like - "This is what democracy feels like" and "Homes not games"

City of Vancouver Police were stationed at intersections along the route. RCMP helicopters, a constant presence overhead.

Groups spontaneously broke into song, and danced in the streets.

Upon reaching BC Place the protesters were met with several rows of City of Vancouver police, and an imposing row of mounted police officers on horseback at the rear.

Speeches were made, songs were sung, a game of street hockey took place, illustrating you didn't have to spend money to have fun.

As darkness fell a rallying cry went out to come to the aid of the elders at the front. The organizers advised those who did not want interaction with the police to move back, those who would stand strong and hold the line to move forward. The police held their line without any form of aggression. The protesters held theirs for the protection of the elders.

Banners that acted as a blind went up around a group of people, presumably, to protect the elders. The protesters set up a protective line around this blind. Hidden by banners, visibility blurred by rain, it was impossible to get a true sense of what was transpiring. Still the call went out: "Protect the elders!"

All at once, sticks were being thrown into the police line, a plastic barrel hurled along with spittle and insults. The chanting changed to: "We want Peace. Fuck the Police." The genuine protesters, disoriented by the turn of events, now shifted their priorities from holding the line to protecting each other. Many tried to disarm the agitators, ripping their banners and wrestling poles away, throwing them to the ground to stop their use as weapons.

The police in turn began to protect the protesters even though they were still being hurled insults and spat upon by the agitators. At no time were the police offensive, despite intense provocation. Even while being attacked, they showed enormous restraint and cautioned people politely and firmly, at all times calling them Sir or Ma'am.

One older woman was verbally attacked and spat upon by some of the agitators. Warned off by the police, the agitators retaliated: "If she doesn't want to get hurt, she shouldn't be here." The policeman replied: "She wants to be here. She has a right to be here. And we're here to protect that right."

As events unfolded, many people retreated. Once the agitators realized they no longer had the protection and support of the protesters they soon abandoned their tactics and withdrew. The police held fast.

Those who had something genuine to protest stood visible and proud, strong in their conviction.
Those whose only goal appeared to be to cause harm through violence to anyone that opposes them, hid behind their masks and used others as shields, under false pretenses.

In the words of one young protester in the aftermath: "Why do I do this? I don't do these protests for me; I go to give a voice to the down-trodden and disenfranchised. I live a very comfortable life, to excess in some ways, but I do this for the future generations who have no voice in this time. My family and friends have asked me to "wait" or why air our dirty laundry in front of the world. I tell them "wait" means never and there is no appropriate time to fight oppression."