G8/G20 Protests

solarz

Brigadier
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I live in Toronto, and I was pretty surprised today to hear about the violent protests in downtown. Apparently, a lot of the stores at the familiar Eaton Centre have been destroyed.

I was just watching on TV a live coverage of the events. A massive force of riot police were guarding the Queen's Park area, and it was pretty interesting to watch them holding back the crowd and occasionally doing "raids" to arrest so-called "leaders and troublemakers". Several such arrests were shown on the live coverage. It was very interesting how the police conducted such arrests: a "snatch squad" of officers in riot gear but wearing shorts (for running, apparently) would rush into the crowd and take down the target. The rest of the riot police would then advance in formation until they cover the "snatch squad" and guard them while the arrested person is hauled off.

There is also a squad of mounted police that would occasionally ride toward the crowd in order to disperse them. This really reminded me of ancient battles where you'd have a phalanx supported by cavalry.

I also couldn't help but notice that almost all news reports covering the protest would blame the violence on "a few" bad apples (namely, the Black Block). This really reminded me of the way CCTV reported on the Lhasa riots.
 
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bd popeye

The Last Jedi
VIP Professional
Here are some photos of the disturbances in Toronto.:(

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For the entire article follow the link below.

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TORONTO — Following an afternoon of violent clashes in Toronto, riot police arrested dozens of G20 protesters who have rampaged through the city’s downtown burning police cars and smashing windows.

At Queen’s Park — the provincial legislature — riot police on horseback have surrounded a group of protesters.

The scene was chaotic as officers on foot in full riot gear and banging their shields tackled protesters to the ground and quickly bundled them behind police lines.

Clashes with police broke out early Saturday afternoon as an estimated 10,000 demonstrators took to the streets of Toronto as part of a massive protest against the G20 summit of world leaders being held in the city.

While most were content to sing, wave placards and dance, a smaller group, estimated at roughly 100, were doing more serious damage, smashing windows at banks and shops in the downtown, as well as attacking two media vehicles.

Dressed in helmets, gas masks and body armour, police appeared to have successfully blocked the protesters from walking down toward the Toronto Convention Centre, the site of the G20 summit.

At one point, after flames and smoke had finally stopped streaming from two of the burnt-out police cars, which had been parked when they were set ablaze, officers formed a line four deep to block off a street.

Hundreds of protesters, filling an entire city block, chanted angrily at the officers: “Let us through,” and “This is what a police state looks like.”

The crowd cheered when a charred police car was towed away.

Toronto Mayor David Miller reacted angrily to the riots.

“I just want to say to Torontonians directly – please stay calm, don’t be disturbed by these images (on TV),” said the mayor.

He said the rioters were “criminals” whose only intent on Saturday was to cause damage and be violent.

“They are criminals and they will be handled by the criminal justice system.”

Dimitri Soudas, Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s director of communications, condemned the violence.

“Free speech is a principle of our democracy. But the thugs that prompted violence earlier today represent in no way shape or form the Canadian way of life,” Soudas said.
 

bd popeye

The Last Jedi
VIP Professional
More photos from Toronto.

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Police confront protesters during a demonstration in downtown Toronto, Canada June 26, 2010 during the G20 summit in Toronto. Violent protesters burned police cars, smashed shop fronts and confronted the force of approximately 20,000 police who were charged with keeping order during the first day of the G20 Summit.
 

SampanViking

The Capitalist
Staff member
Super Moderator
VIP Professional
Registered Member
Bunch of wusses!! :rofl:

If you want a real riot, hold the summit in South Korea. I have always been impressed with the South Korean protesters formation petrol bombing techniques, flying mass martial arts attacks, home made flame throwers etc.

I think if your average Western Police force had to come against these guys they wouldn't know what had hit them!
 

ABC78

Junior Member
It's kinda b.s. when China subdues rioters for public safety it's called oppression. But anytime in the western world rioters in the west are just considered malcontent premmadonnas or fringe groups.

Don't get me wrong I support free protest. But when protesters become violent they lose their moral high ground(if they have one) and public safety and property must be protected. But then again I think 9 out of 10 protest events are made up of whinny premadonnas that complain anytime they don't get their way.
 

solarz

Brigadier
Don't get me wrong I support free protest. But when protesters become violent they lose their moral high ground(if they have one) and public safety and property must be protected. But then again I think 9 out of 10 protest events are made up of whinny premadonnas that complain anytime they don't get their way.

It's really ridiculous how Canada is handling this. Yes, in a democracy, you have the right to protest. However, when the police is preparing for the protests with an army of riot police, tear gas, and water cannons, wouldn't it have been better and safer to simply outlaw protests on that week? Or, if you must allow protests, designate specific areas where protests are allowed and nowhere else.

Of course, the best way would've been to NOT hold the summit in a large city like Toronto. I'm pretty sure the situation would've been much more manageable in Huntsville, for example.

The real kicker to this is that the federal government has said they will not compensate store owners for damages caused by protesters.
 

SteelBird

Colonel
In post #2, I notice a guy in a mask was taking (robbing) things from a smashed cellphone shop. I supposed things like this only happen in countries like Cambodia or Iraq only.
 

cmb=1968

Junior Member
In post #2, I notice a guy in a mask was taking (robbing) things from a smashed cellphone shop. I supposed things like this only happen in countries like Cambodia or Iraq only.


Not realy their was a large amount of looting during the LA riots in the 1990's.

Stuff like Skype cant be secured and they want privacy while discussing how to address/Cause the worlds problems.

The rational for keeping the meeting secret is so the members can supposedly speak freely with out threat of retaliation from the public, and this is why many hate thees meetings other than the hole globalization thing.
 
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siegecrossbow

General
Staff member
Super Moderator
N]
The rational for keeping the meeting secret is so the members can supposedly speak freely with out threat of retaliation from the public, and this is why many hate thees meetings other than the hole globalization thing.

Probably a lot of the protesters/conspiracy freaks are concerned about a "New world order" :D.
 
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