| Salt Lake City |
 |
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| GER |
12 |
16 |
7 |
35 |
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| USA |
10 |
13 |
11 |
34 |
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| NOR |
11 |
7 |
6 |
24 |
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| CAN |
6 |
3 |
8 |
17 |
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| RUS |
6 |
6 |
4 |
16 |
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| AUT |
2 |
4 |
10 |
16 |
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| ITA |
4 |
4 |
4 |
12 |
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| FRA |
4 |
5 |
2 |
11 |
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| SUI |
3 |
2 |
6 |
11 |
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| NED |
3 |
5 |
0 |
8 |
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Free Speech Showdown
KSL-TV
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An Olympic showdown is shaping up over free speech.
A pair of anti-abortion protestors say they likely will sue Olympic organizers in order to protect their First Amendment rights.
They say SLOC is breaking the law by preventing them from bringing signs into Olympic Square.
With all the media in town, it's clear the Olympic Games are a marketing opportunity, whether you are a corporation or an advocacy group.
Protestors were out and about near Olympic Square today, and one group provoked a conflict that they say may have to be resolved in federal court.
Anti-Abortion Protestor Rev. Patrick Mahoney says, "This is a disgrace to SLOC and we want to say that the history of SLOC and the First Amendment has been deplorable."
It may be a sideshow at these Olympic Games. But free speech is at the core of our democracy.
And advocacy groups, like these anti-abortion protestors, are determined to exercise their rights.
The pair wants to enter the Olympic zone with political signs, which the city has banned inside both Olympic Square and Washington Square.
Reverend Mahoney said, "We're going up right now. If we are denied, we will either seek a federal restraining order or else we will get in and risk arrest."
A few blocks away, a group called Burn the Olympics gathers to register their complaints.
A man answers questions but declines to be identified.
"The problem with the Olympics," he says, "We're more focusing on the militarization of the Olympics and the corporatization of the Olympics."
Police are on hand, watching things closely. But there's no confrontation, except for the bystander who turns participant, protesting both the protestors and the media throng.
The bystander shouts, "Hey television! Put them on television!"
Back at Olympic Square, an SLOC security officer stops the sign-carrying protestors.
This is the exchange: "You're saying that if a sign has a religious message it can't go in. But if our sign says, 'Go Michelle Kwan' we would be allowed in. Or 'Go SLOC.' It's the content."
"We're allowing you to come to Salt Lake Olympic Square with leaflets and pamphlets in groups of two or less."
City officials say they believe SLOC has done nothing wrong.
They say the policy states that pamplets and flyers are allowed in Olympic Square, but signs are not.
The protesters say they are talking to their lawyers, and may challenge the city's policy with a federal lawsuit.
Link: Olympic Demonstration Regulations
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February 13, 2002
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