Protesters threaten to target homes of Olympic officials

Anti-poverty protesters in B.C. are threatening to take their protest against the 2010 Olympics to the homes of Vancouver Olympic officials.

The protesters say the Olympics are pushing poor people out of their homes fromVancouver's Downtown Eastside.

Protest organizer David Cunningham says members of the Anti-Poverty Committee know where officials from the Vancouver Organizing Committee live and work and protesters will take their demonstration directly to them.

He said they will target the homes and businesses of VANOC officials and symbolically evict them.

"Well, writing letters to their homes and businesses isn't working, so we're going to take the protest and the anger of poor people to their businesses."

On Wednesday, police officers, RCMP and other security forces outnumbered a couple dozen protesters with the Anti-Poverty Committee who circled the buildingwhere VANOC officials were meeting. A fence was also put up around the entire perimeter of the building.

The demonstration didn't become violent, but in recent monthsthere have been other incidents where protesters physically confronted VANOC executives at events.

Vancouver police Const. Tim Fanning said the force plans to take thenew threats seriously.

"We always have to play it safe," he said.

John Furlong, chief executive officer for the Vancouver Organizing Committee, said such tactics won't change the process. He saidhe will getextra security if needed to keep staff safe.

"We also have to be able to take care of our people."