Games protesters don't worry Romney

Mitt Romney hardly hesitated when a reporter asked him Saturday whether he was more concerned about terrorists or protesters disrupting the 2002 Winter Games.

"Terrorists," replied the Salt Lake Organizing Committee president. "We're not concerned about protesters. That's part of the American way."

Romney joined Utah Gov. Mike Leavitt and Secret Service agent Mark Camillo for a press conference Saturday at the Main Media Center to address the countless security questions being raised by journalists from all over the world.

Romney, who's met on three occasions with animal rights advocates who are planning to protest the Olympic Command Performance Rodeo, said protests are an inconvenience when it comes to trying to move people around crowds of demonstrators, but not a public safety threat. Olympic organizers have established several protest zones in downtown Salt Lake City and outside of Olympic venues.

"Those that have a message they would like to make are welcome to come," Romney said.

With the Olympics now just five days away, demonstrators are making those preparations.

More than a dozen potential demonstrators gathered Tuesday in Salt Lake for a three-hour medical training course taught by three representatives from Black Cross Health Collective, a group of health care workers from Portland, Ore., that formed after the 1999 WTO protests in Seattle. The group of 15 people is made up of nurse practitioners, nurses, EMTs, clinical herbalists, and more.

While Black Cross won't be at the Olympics, local activists asked for help in training potential demonstrators in medical treatment on the street if violence erupts.

"In so many of the situations we've seen peaceful protesters get attacked," said Alan Rausch, a registered nurse who helped teach Saturday's class. "If that happens we want people to be able to help each other."

Black Cross members say that if they've learned anything from past protests, it's that police behavior is unpredictable.

"Everyone I've talked with here has told me that they want to have large, peaceful demonstrations," Rausch said.

Olympic security officials have long said that demonstrators are welcome to voice their opinions, but if they break the law they should expect swift action.

One protest organizer who attended Saturday's training said she wasn't sure how police would react during the Games.