{"id":2567568,"date":"2026-02-07T23:16:01","date_gmt":"2026-02-08T04:16:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/agitators-sabotage-winter-olympics-opening-throw-fireworks-as-police-fight-back-with-water-cannon-tear-gas\/"},"modified":"2026-02-07T23:17:26","modified_gmt":"2026-02-08T04:17:26","slug":"agitators-sabotage-winter-olympics-opening-throw-fireworks-as-police-fight-back-with-water-cannon-tear-gas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/agitators-sabotage-winter-olympics-opening-throw-fireworks-as-police-fight-back-with-water-cannon-tear-gas\/","title":{"rendered":"Agitators Sabotage Winter Olympics Opening, Throw Fireworks as Police Fight Back with Water Cannon, Tear Gas"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">32<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fagitators-sabotage-winter-olympics-opening-throw-fireworks-as-police-fight-back-with-water-cannon-tear-gas%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2567568&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Protests and sabotage overshadowed the Milan Winter Olympics opening,with Italian police using water cannons and tear gas to push back demonstrators after the ceremony. The marchers voiced a range of grievances, including a rule change banning men from competing as women, support for the Palestinian cause, and broader concerns about the Games\u2019 environmental and social impact. Estimates cited by outlets like the New York Post put the crowd at up to about 5,000 people, and several arrests were reported. In the days that followed, <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >activists targeted rail links<\/a> to Olympic venues, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/first-major-storm-of-the-season-drops-up-to-a-foot-of-snow-in-montana\/\" title=\"First big storm of the season blankets Montana with up to 12 inches of snow.\">causing travel disruptions<\/a>, and the Italian Transport Ministry called the incidents of unprecedented seriousness. Protesters argued the event favored progress over <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/rooke-jd-vance-confronts-democrats-with-a-looming-existential-threat\/\" title=\"ROOKE: JD Vance confronts Democrats with a looming existential threat\">working-class interests<\/a>, citing tree removals for the bobsled track and a perceived neglect of welfare programs.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>Protests and sabotage marked the opening of the Winter Olympics in Milan as Italian police used water cannons and tear gas to beat back demonstrators.<\/p>\n<p>The Olympics opened Friday, but after the ceremony was done, thousands of protesters took to the streets, according to the <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/02\/07\/sports\/hundreds-of-hooded-protesters-throw-fireworks-clash-with-police-after-winter-olympics-opening-ceremony-in-milan\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">New York Post<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Agitators had a litany of causes, among them a rule change that banned men from competing as women.<\/p>\n<p>Some of the marchers were protesting on behalf of the Palestinian cause.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">WATCH: Reporter screams in pain as anti-Olympics protesters fire fireworks directly at media in Milan, Italy <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/Q9RH3ry4Cg\">https:\/\/t.co\/Q9RH3ry4Cg<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/isd31WjadY\">pic.twitter.com\/isd31WjadY<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Rapid Report (@RapidReport2025) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/RapidReport2025\/status\/2020193139689156824?\">February 7, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p> <script type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\tif ( getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"stnvideo\").remove() \t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\tdocument.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\", function() { \t\t\t\t\tfunction loadScript(src) { \t\t\t\t\t\tconst script=document.createElement(\"script\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tscript.src=src; \t\t\t\t\t\tscript.async=true; \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.body.appendChild(script); \t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\tfunction findPreviousParagraph(selector, x) { \t\t\t\t\t\tconst targetElement=document.querySelector(selector); \t\t\t\t\t\tif (!targetElement) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.warn(\"Target element not found.\"); \t\t\t\t\t\t\treturn null; \t\t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Get all <\/p>\n<p> elements in order as they appear in the document \t\t\t\t\t\tlet paragraphs=Array.from(document.querySelectorAll(\"p\")); 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\t\t\t\t\t\t\t}, \t\t\t\t\t\t\t{ threshold: 0.5 } \/\/ Adjust threshold as needed \t\t\t\t\t\t);  \t\t\t\t\t\tobserver.observe(element); \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Find the 1st paragraph before #stnvideo and observe it \t\t\t\t\tlet paragraphToObserve=findPreviousParagraph(\"#stnvideo\", 2); \t\t\t\t\tobserveElement(paragraphToObserve); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> <\/p>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Flares and fireworks lit up the streets are marchers set them off against police.<\/p>\n<p>The New York Post reported that the crowd during the five hours of demonstrations reached 5,000 people. Five of them were arrested.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Long live working-class neighborhoods,&rdquo; one banner said, while another added, &ldquo;Homes for families, uniforms out of neighborhoods.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Flares fired at police and media in Milan as anti-Olympics protests spread<\/p>\n<p>Thousands marched past Olympic Village opposing Milano Cortina 2026<\/p>\n<p>Italy passed preventive detention decree &#127345;&#65039;efore the Games opened<\/p>\n<p>Protesters say public funds burned on Olympics instead of healthcare <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/2XYDvi5L7R\">pic.twitter.com\/2XYDvi5L7R<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Boi Agent One (@boiagentone) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/boiagentone\/status\/2020204295740686431?\">February 7, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;These Games are built as a major event based on useless projects, concrete construction, and exploitation of precarious labor, which will not benefit the working classes,&rdquo; protestor Mattia Scolari said.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We are here to protest a development model based on speculation and the lowering of labor protection,&rdquo; Scolari added.<\/p>\n<p>Activists said the environment was a loser in the Games.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The Games are no longer sustainable from an environmental or a social point of view, their time is up,&rdquo; Francesca Missana, 29, said, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/live-news\/20260207-free-the-mountains-protest-in-milan-over-winter-olympics\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">France 24<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Protesters also objected to the decision to cut down trees to make room for the bobsled track.<\/p>\n<p>Later Saturday, attacks on rail lines linking the various Olympic sites snarled travel, according to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.co.uk\/news\/article-15538551\/saboteurs-Winter-Olympics-travel-chaos-Winter-Olympics.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Daily Mail<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Parts of the rail lines were shut down for several hours.<\/p>\n<p>The Italian Transport Ministry said the attacks were of &ldquo;unprecedented seriousness&rdquo; as other protesters tried to storm a road leading to an Olympic venue.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey==typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts={ \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs=[ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i=0; i <inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! 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Although the Games began with a Friday ceremony, thousands later took to the streets, according to the New York Post. Demonstrators cited a range of grievances, including a rule change that barred men from competing in women\u2019s events, and some marched in solidarity with the Palestinian cause. There were tense confrontations as protesters fired fireworks at media. The Post estimated about 5,000 people were involved over roughly five hours, with five arrests. Banners proclaimed support for working-class neighborhoods and demanded housing for families rather than uniforms. Protesters argued the Games were built on costly projects, concrete construction, and the exploitation of precarious labor, offering little benefit to workers, and some said the event would be environmentally and socially unsustainable. They also objected to tree removals to make room for a bobsled track. On Saturday, attacks on rail lines linking Olympic sites disrupted travel, with parts of the network shut for hours; the Italian Transport Ministry called the incidents of unprecedented seriousness as others tried to storm access to venues. Critics argued that public funds were better spent on healthcare, not the Olympics. In the run-up to the Games, Italy also passed a preventive detention decree<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2567569,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Ben-Working-Feature-Image-2026-02-07T230237.413.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[12808,4542,9918,72013],"class_list":["post-2567568","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-fireworks","tag-protest","tag-sabotage","tag-winter-olympics"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Ben-Working-Feature-Image-2026-02-07T230237.413.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2567568","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2567568"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2567568\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2567572,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2567568\/revisions\/2567572"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2567569"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2567568"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2567568"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2567568"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}