The Hook

Protest during the 2010 Games won't be led by a large group with broad appeal, a Vancouver city councillor suggested.

"To be honest, I don't see a big anti-Olympics movement," Geoff Meggs told reporters yesterday. His comments came as the city announced new changes to its contentious signage bylaws.

The ability of people to express political messages critical of the Olympics has been a huge issue in recent months.

Many Games critics have legitimate concerns about whether provincial money would be better spent in areas such as healthcare, Meggs said. And people should fight for their civil liberties whenever they see potential restrictions, he added.

But the Vision Vancouver councillor isn't convinced critics such as Chris Shaw have roused the city to action.

"I've not found a large group of people who are making an argument that I think would draw a big crowd about the Olympics," he said.

Those comments would appear to dispute the position of the Vancouver Integrated Security Unit. Last July, Olympics security boss Bud Mercer told city council he's worried about a potential 2010 convergence.

“Locally, provincially, nationally and internationally,” Mercer said at the time, “there are groups which are considering and planning to engage in criminal protesting during the 2010 Games.”

Mercer produced internet images of the official mascots wielding Molotov cocktails -- among others -- to bolster his case.

The ISU has no qualms with lawful protest, Mercer has often stated. But he's warned any actions that damage property or endanger safety will be dealt with swiftly.

Geoff Dembicki reports for the Tyee.