VANCOUVER — A lawsuit filed today challenging the city's Olympic bylaw restricting protest signs in certain areas of the city is being supported by the BC Civil Liberties Association.

The suit is being filed today by Dr. Chris Shaw, a professor, and Alissa Westergard-Thorpe, a student who say they plan to protest during the Games.

In a news release sent out this morning, BCCLA Executive Director David Eby said, "The bylaw is an affront to free speech. Its purpose and effect is to limit citizens’ rights to express dissenting views and to hear dissenting views on public property.”

He said the association is concerned about restricting signage that is deemed not "celebratory" in public facilities and even a city park.

Shaw and Westergard-Thorpe state in the statement of claim, that they intend to defy the bylaw and cirticize the 2010 Olympic Games through signs, leaflets and merchandise at the prohibited sites.

Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson said Olympic protesters have every right to challenge the bylaw but feels confident it will stand up in court.

"We're very mindful of ensuring that the Charter of Rights and Freedoms is respected and that people can protest all they want in the City of Vancouver — that's a given," he said.

"The question here is that with the bylaws specifically, it will be about enforcing and ensuring we hold our end of the bargain up with respect to sponsors' rights and the IOC requirements we're obliged to follow through on."