LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 27: A giant set of Olympic rings are displayed from Tower Bridge on June 27, 2012 in London, England. The rings weigh over three tonnes and measure over 25 metres wide by 11.5 metres tall; they will be illuminated in a light-show every evening during the Games. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images)
LONDON (AP) - About 300 people critical of the economic impact of London's Olympics are marching in protest to an east London park.
A dozen police are watching Saturday's trouble-free march by the hard-left activists, who decry the games as a corporate juggernaut rolling over residents and their civil rights. Their placards include such slogans as "Corpolympics."
The protesters contend that the often-cited Olympic boost to the traditionally gritty, working-class East End of London is an illusion, whereas major corporate sponsors such as McDonald's and Coca-Cola gain from the 9.3 billion pound ($14 billion) games.
One protester, Michael Coulston, says the British government chose to spend billions on attracting visitors "to one location for a couple of weeks" rather than to build infrastructure of lasting benefit to all Londoners.
Associated Press