Vancouver activists split on violent tactics

The anti-Olympic activist community was divided Monday, following a violent protest on the streets of downtown Vancouver Saturday.

Housing activists and civil libertarians who hoped to capitalize on the Olympic Games to get their message out were trying to distance themselves from the weekend incident, while some protesters claiming to have organized the riot are hinting of more attacksto come.

Three people were arrested after masked protesters broke windows at the Hudson's Bay Company store and vandalized cars on West Georgia Street.

"Certainly the credibility of those involved in the demonstration has been compromised," said B.C. Civil Liberties Association president David Eby.

A demonstration and march by housing activists Monday was relatively peaceful, with no property damage, injuries or arrests.

"Those of us who are activists, we do our research," said housing advocate Rose Henry. "But then there's the provocateurs who get the media attention."

Several hundred marchers wound their way through Vancouver's Downtown Eastside, demanding more be done to end homelessness.

The group briefly hung a banner off the Cambie Street Bridge.

"The banner says 'Homes for All,' said John Richardson, executive director of the Pivot Legal Society. "Really, who's going to disagree with that? I think even police officers understand the importance of dealing with homelessness."

Red tent campaign

Police were monitoring the protest and came to an agreement with the activists that the banner could hang for 20 minutes before it had to be furled up again.

The march ended at a empty lot onWest Hastings Street, which the protesters quickly turned into a temporary tent city.

The lot owned by the development company Concord Pacific will be home to dozens of activists who plan to pitch their red tents there for the next few days, unless authorities move them out first.

The bright colour of the tents is meant to draw attention to Pivot's campaign both to provide shelter for the homeless and encourage the federal government to establish a national housing strategy.

"It's a real community event," said Dave Diewert of the group, Streams of Justice. "This thing is driven by residents of the Downtown Eastside."

Rioters warn of more attacks

Another group of anti-Olympic protesters has distributed an unsigned message defending the actions of the so-called black block anarchistswhowere blamed for much of the damagein Vancouver on Saturday morning.

Police say about 100 protesters, many dressed in black balaclavas and masks, broke away from a larger group and started smashing shop windows and vandalizing cars along West Georgia Street.

The letter claims the property destruction was non-violent because no people were harmed and indicatesthere may beattacks on Olympic sponsors.

"As long as government and corporations attack our communities, we're going defend and that means attack," said the message.

The message, which claims to be from protest organizers, said the property damage was justified because welfare rates in Vancouver are too low and homeless rates are too high because of spending on the Olympics.

"Participants in the demonstration only undertook strategic attacks against corporations sponsoring the Olympics and did not harm or attack bystanders," said the message, which was released to the media on Monday.

Despite thearrest of three people on Saturday, those involved believe theprotest was a success, according to the message.

'We're going defend and that means attack.' Unsigned message

"We proved that $1 billion of security couldn't prevent us from clogging the heart of downtown Vancouver and crashing a party of 100,000 people and getting away with it," said the message.

It also blames police for threatening public safety by deploying riot squads to control the protesters and defends the masks the participants used to hide their identities.

"Participation in the black bloc is an act of courage. By wearing black clothing and masking our faces, the black bloc allows for greater protection to those who choose active self-defense," said the message.

Chief Jim Chu has said police will respect the rights of those who wish to express their criticism through protests, but that does not give them right to commit crimes and jeopardize the public's safety.