Anarchists threaten "mayhem" at 2010 Olympics
{{date|December 10, 2007}}
{{2010-olympics}}
On Saturday night, [[w:anarchism|anarchists]] reportedly hurled pieces of pavement through the windows of a [[w:Royal Bank of Canada|Royal Bank]] location, demonstrating against their sponsorship of [[w:2010 Winter Olympics|the Vancouver Olympics]].

An anonymous posting Sunday evening to Infoshop News, an independent anarchist news website, reports that the Royal Bank of Canada branch at 1st and Commercial had its windows destroyed by "some exceptionally large pieces of pavement".

The website describes the bank, a sponsor of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games, as "bastards".

It continues, by encouraging anarchists to participate—"you don’t have to wait until the 17 days of official events to begin competing, you can start right now!!!"

{{cquote|This is a tiny taste of the mayhem we like to see submerge the city of Vancouver for 2010. Lets build a constellation of revolt that threatens not only the Olympics but capitalism and the state in general.}}

The anonymous posting on the anarchist website includes a list of thirteen branches of the bank in the city, and encourages fellow anarchists to destroy the property. The site even says "don't forget a gold medal will be given for the most damage at a single location."

There was no explanation on the site, as to why Royal Bank was targeted.

The bank has supported the [[w:Canada at the Olympics|Canadian Olympic Movement]] for 60 years. The RBC Olympians Program was created in 2002, and among the 35 athletes it has supported are diving bronze medalist [[w:Blythe Hartley|Blythe Hartley]], [[w:Jennifer Botterill|Jennifer Botterill]] from the gold-winning women's ice hockey team, and athlete [[w:Perdita Felicien|Perdita Felicien]]. This year, the program is sponsoring a total of 28 summer and winter athletes.

[[w:2010_Olympics#Opposition|Opposition to the 2010 Olympics]] has focused on the $1.63 billion expense for taxpayers, destruction of natural habitat, and loss of low-income housing to support a fee-based recreational event.

==Related news==
*{{Wikinews|title=Anti-Olympic protesters break into office of British Columbia premier|date=May 23, 2007}}

{{haveyoursay}}

== Sources ==
*{{source|url=http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=20071209193053119|title=Attack on the Royal Bank of Canada; New Olympic event announcement|author=Anonymous|pub=Infoshop News|date=December 9, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.rbc.com/newsroom/20070924olympians.html|title= 	
RBC announces 28 Olympic and Paralympic athletes as RBC Olympians|author=|pub=Royal Bank of Canada|date=September 24, 2007}}

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{{Archived}} 

[[Category:North America]] 
[[Category:Canada]] 
[[Category:British Columbia]] 
[[Category:Vancouver, British Columbia]]
[[Category:Sports]] 
[[Category:Crime and law]] 
[[Category:Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games]]
On Saturday night, anarchists reportedly hurled pieces of pavement through the windows of a Royal Bank location, demonstrating against their sponsorship of the Vancouver Olympics.

An anonymous posting Sunday evening to Infoshop News, an independent anarchist news website, reports that the Royal Bank of Canada branch at 1st and Commercial had its windows destroyed by "some exceptionally large pieces of pavement".

The website describes the bank, a sponsor of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games, as "bastards".

It continues, by encouraging anarchists to participate—"you don’t have to wait until the 17 days of official events to begin competing, you can start right now


"

The anonymous posting on the anarchist website includes a list of thirteen branches of the bank in the city, and encourages fellow anarchists to destroy the property. The site even says "don't forget a gold medal will be given for the most damage at a single location."

There was no explanation on the site, as to why Royal Bank was targeted.

The bank has supported the Canadian Olympic Movement for 60 years. The RBC Olympians Program was created in 2002, and among the 35 athletes it has supported are diving bronze medalist Blythe Hartley, Jennifer Botterill from the gold-winning women's ice hockey team, and athlete Perdita Felicien. This year, the program is sponsoring a total of 28 summer and winter athletes.

Opposition to the 2010 Olympics has focused on the $1.63 billion expense for taxpayers, destruction of natural habitat, and loss of low-income housing to support a fee-based recreational event.
North America Canada British Columbia Vancouver, British Columbia Sports Crime and law Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games