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CNN Saturday Morning News

Protesters Promote Various Causes at Olympics

Aired February 09, 2002 - 07:10   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Let's go back to the Winter Olympics now. The flame is burning in Salt Lake City, and the first competition kicks off today. We're told the weather is good, by the way.

But last night, millions of people around the world watched that opening ceremony, including U.S. troops in Kandahar. They watched with a sense of increased patriotism as a torn American flag recovered from ground zero after the September 11 attacks was brought into the ceremony.

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CAPT. MICHAEL TITAS, U.S. ARMY: It gives me a great sense of pride, you know, that I'm, you know, here serving my country and seeing the flag and everything over there. And the support that we've gotten since September 11, I think people appreciate us a little more now.

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PVT. CHRISTINA HELLER, U.S. ARMY: It's amazing, it makes me really proud that I'm able to be here. Not the easiest thing in the world being here, but when you see something like that, you know it's all worth it.

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O'BRIEN: Canadian and Norwegian troops also cheered for their Winter Olympics athletes; 77 countries have athletes competing in the games in all.

Protesters supporting a wide range of causes also found their way to the Olympics in Salt Lake City. Five people were arrested last night after confronting police near the location where President Bush was to enter the Olympic stadium. Another protest group was dispersed after trying to block a media bus.

But as CNN's Rusty Dornin reports, the demonstrations are so far regulated and mostly peaceful.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): For some, Salt Lake City is not the place for fun and games. It was time for the protests to begin.

UNIDENTIFIED PROTEST LEADER: What do we want?

UNIDENTIFIED PROTESTERS: Health care!

UNIDENTIFIED PROTEST LEADER: When do we want it?

UNIDENTIFIED PROTESTERS: Now!

DORNIN: There was a march for the Poor People Economic Rights Campaign.

CHERI HONKALA, HOMELESS ADVOCATE: We have a responsibility to talk about more than bobsledding and security and military in the hills of Utah. We have a responsibility to talk about hunger and homelessness in America.

DORNIN: Everywhere marchers turned, there were police.

A few blocks away, an official protest pit, one of two so-called bullpens. Small groups gather, like this one, angry about gays.

MARGIE PHELPS, ANTI-GAY PROTESTER: I've gotten reaction with questions and disagreement, like everywhere I go.

DORNIN: The gay group scheduled to follow them didn't show up.

Each group gathers, makes their point in their allotted time, and moves on, making way for the next group.

LT. DAVE BURDETT, SALT LAKE COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT: Numbers have been much less than expected. I think the cold weather has probably helped us on that. But so far, everybody's been very decent.

DORNIN: There were the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, and an antiabortion group that was upset about condom distribution at the Olympic Village. And as opening ceremonies began, in a park nearby, hundreds of members of the religious group Falun Gong held a candlelight vigil to protest repressive policies of the Chinese government.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're not here to protest the Olympics. I'd like to make that very clear. We're here actually just to raise awareness about what Falun Gong is. It's a peaceful meditation practice.

DORNIN: Security couldn't be tighter for everyone. For those unhappy with the Olympics, or here with a cause, police closed the ring a bit tighter. Five people were arrested at the march for blocking traffic.

But with the world's eyes on Salt Lake, any attention, say protesters, is worth the effort. Rusty Dornin, CNN, Salt Lake City, Utah.

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