13 October 2008
Protests Cast Shadow on Olympic Spirit
The Olympic Spirit train is travelling through
Canada.
Woodbridge Ontario - The Olympic Spirit train is
thundering through the Greater Toronto Area Monday, trying to get Canadians excited about the 2010 Vancouver Games.
But the train is not only rallying support, it is also attracting its fair share of protests.
Police were on standby Monday afternoon at the Cooksville GO Train station in Mississauga Monday afternoon to monitor the crowd
gathered to meet the train.
On Sunday night, authorities had to step in when about 25 people blocked a CP rail line in Woodbridge to protest aboriginal,
environmental, and poverty issues.
One woman even chained herself to the tracks.
Police managed to dismantle the blockade after about an hour.
"They listened to reasoning and they're dispersing," Sgt. Mike Sterchele of York Regional Police told The Canadian Press
late Sunday night. "We always like to negotiate these things to a peaceful end."
No arrests were made.
Protesters say the Olympics symbolize corporate greed and that the 2010 Games are being held illegally no native lands.
One protester said the blockades are a sign of solidarity. "This is an act of solidarity with those First Nations on the West
Coast," Dan Keller said in a telephone interview with The Canadian Press. "The ultimate aim of this is of course to stop the
Spirit train," he said.
Breanne Feigel, spokesperson for CP Rail, said the company is "concerned" about the protests. "Certainly in this case,
we were extremely concerned as this form of protest poses a serious safety risk," she said.
While protesters have met the train at each stop across the country, the Spirit Parties have managed to prevail.
The free event features local entertainment and special appearances by Olympic athletes. Colin James was expected to perform at 6 p.m.
at Monday's event in Mississauga.
CP Rail said in a news release the train is a "mobile ambassador moving the Olympic spirit to Canadian communities."
The train took off from Port Moody, B.C. on 21 Sep 2008 and headed across Canada.
Cooksville station is the train's eighth stop.
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