Live blog: Saturday June 2
5:55pm. Inside the Security Zone What secret law?
Police inside the security fence don't seem to be exercising the "secret" law that allows them to arrest people coming five metres from the fence - at least they aren't using it for the non-violent protestors. A French-Canadian woman dressed in a Mexican wrestling mask and pink superhero costume just put her fingers through the fence to ask a cop in a gas mask for directions to the subway.
5:52 pm. City Hall Outrage
Toronto Mayor David Miller tells press conference he's outraged at what's happened in city streets today. "A number of people intent on committing violent acts did exactly that ... I want to express my anger and my outrage at those acts," he said.
5:50 p.m. Inside the Security Zone
Some officers inside fence now removing gas masks
5:47 p.m. Sit-down showdown
Protesters sit on University Ave. Robyn Doolittle/Toronto Star
5:31 p.m. Tear gas not used, police say
A half-hour after confirming that tear gas had been deployed, police are now retracting that statement. Const. Tim Garland, from the ISU media unit, said that there has not been any tear gas used in the city.
5:30 p.m. Trying to recover
A man and woman are on the sidewalk, flushing their eyes after being hit by pepper spray.
"It will stop burning soon," someone said.
They were part of a group sitting in the median when officers moved in.
Protesters get treatment for wounds. Robyn Doolittle/Toronto Star
5:23p.m. Queen's Park Whom do you stand on guard for?
About 50 protesters at Queen's Park sing Oh Canada and then yell at police: "Whom do you stand on guard for?"
The Star’s Jennifer Yang says the protesters were "not doing anything" when they were confronted by the officers aside from sitting on the median. The officers, on bicycle, hit the protesters with their front wheels; they subsequently sprayed them directly in the eyes with pepper spray and hit them with batons. The protesters are now attempting to clear their eyes using a white solution they say is a mixture of milk and magnesium water.
About 30 people who were sitting on the median at University and College were confronted by police, who closed in from the north. Some were pepper sprayed, and others were hit with batons; one man on a bicycle was pushed off it, and one man is bleeding from the head. At least one other protester is bleeding. After the confrontation began, some of the protesters started singing O Canada.
5:20 p.m. Four University Ave. hospitals locked down
Mt. Sinai, Toronto General, Sick Kids and Princess Margaret are in lockdown because of the protests.
"It’s mainly precautionary," said Mt. Sinai spokesperson Jackie DeSouza.
The hospital went into lockdown around 4:30 p.m. and will remain so indefinitely.
"We have security teams monitoring the situation," DeSouza said.
Security officers are posted at doors and questioning people as they come in, and visitors are allowed to leave.
5:16 pm. Downtown Toronto Ride Anyone
It appears the British Prime Minister David Cameron wasn't prepared to travel from Huntsville to Toronto so he hitched a ride with U.S. President Barack Obama.
The Star's Allan Woods passes on this White House pool report about the U.S. President's landing in Toronto.
"Marine 1 (Obama's helicopter) wheels down in Toronto at 1:35pm at landing zone just beneath the space needle and next Metro Toronto Convention Center and Steam Whistle Brewing. POTUS (Obama) and PM Cameron walked briskly under umbrellas to motorcade."
The "space needle" is the CN Tower. POTUS is media and U.S. Secret Service slang for President of the United States.
5:13 p.m. Inside the fence
A new development from inside the perimeter – police inside the fence have suited up in gas masks.
There’s still no sign of any protesters at the fence.
5:06 p.m. Along College St.
Several tear gas canisters have been thrown, but all of them have landed too far away from protesters to have an impact; one protester yelled, “Everyone, stay where you are, the tear gas isn’t working.”
However, riot police have surrounded protesters from the east, south and west, their ranks recently bolstered by a bus full of officers.
One protester said “let’s go home,” and others agreed with the sentiment.
People are looting a police van that has been smashed at College and University. Officers with shields have blocked the south and west corners of the street. Officers on horseback are now moving in from the east. Someone has been injured and is being taken to hospital by a fellow demonstrator.
5:05 p.m. Hospitals locked down
Three University Ave. hospitals – Mt. Sinai, Toronto General and Princess Margaret – are in lockdown because of the protests.
“It’s mainly precautionary,” said Mt. Sinai spokesperson Jackie DeSouza. The hospital went into lockdown around 4:30 p.m. and will remain so indefinitely. “We have security teams monitoring the situation,” DeSouza said.
Security officers are posted at doors and questioning people as they come in, and visitors are allowed to leave.
5:04 p.m. Some protesters leave
Some protesters are walking away from the scene. A line of riot officers is marching toward University Ave. on College St., but the officers are ignoring the protesters standing on the sides of the street, appearing to be heading to a specific destination.
5:01 pm. Inside the Security Zone Fence
More heavily armed police are now showing up inside the security zone. Police are standing on the railway bridge that crosses Lower Simcoe south of Front St. and they are also spreading out along the outside of the southern part of the fence on Lower Simcoe.
Police who just showed up in front of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre entrance look like they're from the SWAT team.
Steve Tustin/Toronto Star
5 p.m. A sickly sweet smell
Among the hundreds of protesters at Yonge and Adelaide was one holding a sign saying “Free Mark Emery,” referring to the Canadian marijuana-legalization activist who is in custody in the U.S.
As the protester went by, so did the strong smell of marijuana.
4.59 p.m. Shots fired
Intersection of University Ave. and College St. Two shots were fired, Jesse McLean reports. There was confusion. Then three more shots were fired. No one seemed to be hit.
People moved out of the intersection. Then the people wearing black clothes huddled close together on a patch of grass northwest corner of intersection,, changed out of their black clothes.
They are wearing street clothes. They vanished. A line of 15 police, police holding their shields up, tiptoed forward with shields in air. Some people are lobbing bottles at them.
Some demontrators were chanting: no more tar sands.
Jennifer Yang Photos/Toronto Star
“Tear gas has been used near University and College,” said ISU spokesperson Nina Snyder. “We don’t have confirmation on who deployed it – we don’t know if it was police or protesters.”
4.56 p.m. At University and College
The people in black are just finishing vandalizing what they think is a undercover police car – smashed front windshield and stuck a black flag into the windshield - kicked side mirrors.
Police aren’t doing anything. They are standing here and watching. There are lots of civilians – hangers on watching this. They may be protestors left over from the march. They are not taking part in the destruction.
We are running now, reports The Star's Joanne Wong. I’m not sure why.
4:50 p.m.Queen and University Anit-media slogans
The Star's Dave Rider reports that a CBC reporter was the target of about 200 black-clad protesters marching east.
CBLT reporter Michael Dick had just finished reporting live on the south side of Queen St. West University as the protesters started hurling rocks and bricks.
“I felt something whiz by my head,” a shaken Dick told the Star about five minutes after the attack. Pointing at a camera operator, Dick said: “He yelled ‘We’re under attack’ and I tucked in behind the vehicle. They were throwing bricks and other things.”
The protesters were yelling “Distorting the truth” and other anti-media slogans, he said. The big side window at the back of the passenger side was smashed in, a brick visible on the seat. The van’s back window was also smashed. The camera operator said it was done with a large stone.
Just east of them, on the north side of Queen St. W. in front of Osgoode Hall, another CBC minivan appeared abandoned, with the driver’s side front window smashed in.
4:50 pm. Spadina Ave and Richmond St. Why protest?
At Spadina Ave. and Richmond St. at about 2 p.m., where protesters drummed and faced riot police on foot and horseback, the Star asked one woman why she was there.
Pulling on a bandana, as were many of the protesters around her, as a riot officer on horseback aimed at a tear gas gun at the loud, chanting crowd, Agnes, 33, said she had to show her opposition to the G20 gathering.
“The G20 should not be in Toronto, in the downtown streets that have been blocked off,” said Agnes, a language teacher would declined to give her last name. “They built a fence that is a violation of our human rights. Toronto is a centre for activism and there are some hardliners who are not going to back down when the police move forward,” she said, eyeing the riot police.
4:48 p.m. Along College St. near Bay
People – about 50 to 100 - dressed in black smashing windows.
Most of their with faces covered; they are carrying bandanas and sticks. They’re pulling newspaper boxes and throwing them into street; they are pulling bricks from sidewalk planters and hurling them in windows. Police - in masks, helmets and shields - aren’t doing anything.
A few hundred hangers on are following the group smashing windows.
4:45 p.m. Jazz fest reports no cancellations yet tonight .
They are hoping the riot will die down. The Club Django Sexet of Toronto is about to soundcheck for their 5 p.m. show at Nathan Phillips Square mainstage tent. Piano legend Herbie Hancock is scheduled for 8 p.m. at same venue.
4:43 p.m. Yonge and Adelaide
Hundreds of protesters went nose-to-nose with officers at Yonge and Adelaide Sts., until police called in reinforcements, reports Peter Edwards.
With a much greater police presence – a line of officers is blocking Adelaide west of Yonge, four or five thick – the crowd of 400 is now at a standoff with them. Protesters are carrying signs and flags, and banging in drums, and making “peace” or “victory” signs with their hands.
4:40 p.m. Police headquarters
Protesters smashed windows at police headquarters. Nearby riot officers did not respond. There is an evident divide in the motives of the violent protesters. Some are seeking only to vandalize institutions, such as banks and stores, while others seek to damage any property they encounter. As one man attempted to flip a BMW parked near police headquarters, someone attempted to stop him, saying, “That’s not our enemy.” He responded, “These are our enemies.”
4:40 p.m. Protesters attack police cars
On Queen Street.
In the financial district. Chris Young/The Canadian Press
In the financial district. Steve Russell/Toronto Star
4:34 p.m. Vandalism and violence at College and Yonge
They’re hurling the limbs of manequinnes nabbed outside a Footlocker and American Apparel. They’re ripping up G20 signs and targeting Zanzibar.
“This isn’t violence, this is vandalism against violent corporations. We did not hurt anybody, we did not target anybody,” said one protester. They say they’re targeting the companies responsible for the greatest oppression against people, companies that use sweat shops to create their products.
Targeting Nike and Addidas as they move up Yonge. They’ve also smashed a Swiss Chalet, filled with staff and customers. They’re making their way to Gerard.
Police presence seems to be diminishing – they’re just trying to channel the crowd. Smashed a Money Mart. Cops up the road with riot gear. Numerous protestors did not bring their cell phones to the march for fear they were being tapped.
Smashed a window at Bell store south of College, they’re hurling display cell phones into the crowd. Protestors are also using steel bars that hold up construction signs as a battering ram.
Smashed a window at the Carlu. Protestors are breaking the bricks from the middle of the street median and hurling them.
4:30 p.m. Outside police headquarters
A wall of police in riot gear has formed outside 40 College, police headquarters. People are hurling bricks and golf balls at them.
Meanwhile, windows at the TD across the street are being smashed. Police are filing out of two buses and grabbing their shields from underneath. Protestors are showing compassion to pedestrians and the public.
4:27 p.m. DeBoer's attacked
Protesters created a big hole in a display window at DeBoer’s, the high-end furniture store on Yonge just south of College. An employee approached the hole and yelled “Stop it”; protesters yelled back, “Move back, honey. We don’t hate you, we just hate the company you work for.” She complied. Protesters also smashed windows at the nearby Bell store, then ransacked it and threw cellphones into the street.
4:24 p.m. Police move north on horseback
20 officers on horseback are riding north on Yonge St. Two police coach buses have assembled at Yonge and Queen as the crowds move north.
4:22p.m. 'Torontonians should be outraged'
Mayor David Miller in an interview with CP24: “We have thousands of people peaceably asserting their democratic right to speak up, and a small, relatively small group, probably a few hundred, mostly people who seem to be not from Toronto, come here to on all evidence commit deliberate acts of violence. I think every Torontonian should be outraged by that.”
4:21 p.m. Zanzibar attacked
A female protester shouted “f-you” in the direction of the
Protesters then began tearing down the letters on
They also smashed windows of American Apparel, sending mannequins spilling into the street; protesters began ripping the mannequins apart.
Jennifer Yang/Toronto Star
Mayor David Miller tells Torontonians: "Stay Calm. There is significant police presence downtown."
4:16 p.m. Protest goes north
The protesters are heading further north up Yonge St. towards Yonge Dundas Square. They’re becoming less discerning about the businesses they’re targeting.
They started smashing glass at banks, Starbucks, and McDonald’s, but have now turned to businesses like Popeye’s and Urban Outfitters.
Every 10 seconds or so there’s a cavalcade of noise and an eruption of cheers from the crowd accompanying the sound of broken glass.
4:14 p.m. "Middle of a riot"
Shoppers outside the Eaton Centre are frightened. One scared woman on her cellphone says: "We're in the middle of a riot."
4:12p.m. Just outside the fence
About 20 riot police on horseback just trotted east on Wellington just outside the fence. Didn't appear to be in a hurry.
4:11 p.m. Bay and Adelaide
Hundreds of demonstrators and onlookers are congregating at Bay and Adelaide. Officers have put on gas masks and are shouting for people to back up.
4:10 p.m. Fire in the distance
Randy Risling/Toronto Star
4:09 p.m. Cop car smashed
Randy Risling/Toronto Star
4:06 pm. Dundas and Yonge
Toronto Eaton Centre has declared a lock down and all the stores in the downtown mall are closing. Officials at the mall are asking everyone to leave through the doors on the Dundas side through Canadian Tire.
As the building was being evacuated, Star reporter Joanne Wong was told that the reason for the lock down was because of the protest and the demonstrations involving the G20.
4:05 p.m. No tear gas, police sayToronto Police Const. Wendy Drummond says tear gas has not been used at any point yet during the protest.
4:03 p.m. Smoke fills financial district
The police car set on fire is slowly exploding now; it is popping every now and then. The mob was trapped on the west, south and north, so everyone ran east away from the car. Smoke is whipping through the financial district.
One woman with a megaphone yelled: ”Violence is not the answer.” The mob is yelled obscenities at her. “They’re no better than the G20,” she retorts.
4:01 p.m. Police wall off intersection
Police have walled off King and Yonge. The cops are moving up Yonge. Medics are running around, screaming “Is anyone hurt?”
3:57 p.m.
I hear people say we're headed to Dundas Square. Everyone walking north on Yonge St; the goal of reaching the fence has been abandoned, seemingly.
3:54 p.m. Very big gun
Riot police at Queen St. just east of Spadina Ave. Roger Gillespie/Toronto Star
As black smoke from a police car on fire fills the air, protesters yell “it’s going to blow, it’s going to blow” and begin running toward Yonge, where officers await.
But the officers retreat as the group approaches, and the group heads north on Yonge, shouting “take the streets!”
3:51 p.m. Financial District Chemicals and smoke in the air
The Star's Robyn Doolittle reports ambulances, fire trucks and about 30 police vans are speeding along Adelaide towards Bay. The air smells like chemicals and smoke, as far away as Duncan.
3:49 p.m. Smoke is getting darker
Flames are whipping out of the burning police car and the smoke is getting darker by the second. The car is sitting in the middle of the intersection of Bay and King Sts. The car is going to blow soon. Riot cops on horses are staying close by.
3:48 p.m. Police point of view
Toronto Police Const. Wendy Drummond said a minority of protestors has broken off from the main marchers and begun smashing storefronts and overturning mailboxes.
“It has changed drastically. What was a peaceful protest has branched off into violence. We’ve got people out there destroying police vehicles, businesses and city property. It is no longer a peaceful protest,” she said.
“The vast majority have been peaceful and in all our communications with them and all our planning, the vast majority have expressed to us the desire to have a peaceful protest,” she said.
Drummond said police will now use all their resources available to protect the public’s safety and private property. “It’s our mandate to protect people and property and this is something we’re going to continue to do,” she said.
“We have shown enormous professionalism and restraint throughout this protest and will continue to do so, but there’s been lots of provocation. There’s taunting, there’s been things thrown at (police) and we’ve had police vehicles damaged.”
Drummond said police are encouraging peaceful protestors to separate from the faction that’s committing the acts of vandalism. “If you’re planning to be peaceful, remove yourself from the violence that is happening downtown,” she said. “There are other peaceful protests on throughout the city.”
3:49 p.m.
Police car on fire at Bay and King. Police moving in.
Jennifer Yang/Toronto Star
3:46 p.m. King and Bay
At King and Bay, protesters have begun putting gas masks on; "tear gas, tear gas," some are saying to others. Five police vehicles in the area, two of which are vans, have been smashed, and one has the word "Murderer" written on it in orange. The protesters briefly retreated, apparently spooked by something, but are now once again proceeding south toward the fence.
3:45 p.m. Mood turns ugly
Cops inside security fence now donning riot helmets. Mood no longer easy-going.
Star reporter Brendan Kennedy just ordered by cops very forcefully to move back away from fence.
"It's for your own safety. Trust me."
3:42 p.m.: Protest reaches King
The protesters are running now, at King; they have smashed another police car at Bay and King and are throwing rocks in every direction. Riot police are present, but not in an organized line.
3:41 p.m. Inside the fence
They just turned back delegates trying to leave the area. No one out or in.
3:40 p.m. Security lockdown
Security fence gates just closed. Security zone is locked down.
3:39 pm Broken Windows and Graffiti
Protesters have broken the windows at Starbucks at Bay and Queen and the Hudson's Bay and Company, reports the Star's Jayme Poisson. The renegade protesters have also spraypainted the words "Class War" across the Scotia Bank. They have also spraypainted across the Hudson's Bay sign on the facade of the store: "No Corporate Greed".
3:30 p.m. When it turned violent
Groups were still crowded at the intersection of Spadina Ave. near Queen St. W. when protesters began smashing a police vehicle, with an officer inside. Officers scared the protesters away with batons and managed to get the officer out. The protesters continued to smash the vehicle before heading east.
No specific group targeted the police cruiser. Protesters wearing black have broken a Nike business window, and other business windows. There was a discussion and the protesters are now going back to Spadina, most clad in black in gas masks.
Protesters are breaking windows, destroying commercial business windows. They are chanting "against police, against prison." They are refusing photos by media. Nike store window was destroyed. Foot Locker was also targeted.
Protesters are also dragging mailboxes into the streets to block them. It is beginning to get unruly.
The black-clad protesters are leaving independent shops alone. They hit Subway hard, throwing pieces of cement and reusing them again. CIBC was just smashed. Others are tagging walls and moving on. People are blocking cameras’ lenses.
There is a man with a hammer, he is taking out windows.
Time for theh police to take the gloves off and start whacking and stacking these morons. These aren't protestors and they aren't activists. They are terrorists who have now commited a wide variety of violent crimes and they should be treated as such.
Posted by: MIke webster | 06/26/2010 at 04:02 PM
Arrest them all. I'm 100% for G-8 protests, but this is absolutely disgusting behaviour.
Posted by: Derek | 06/26/2010 at 04:19 PM
I am completely disgusted by the way the protesters acted during the G20 summit. They are cowards. They hide their faces and run after throwing golf balls, fire bombs, damaging buildings & vehicles. Protesters trying to harm the police horses by throwing rocks on the ground. It's disgusting! They pretend they are trying to promote their causes but all they really want to do is cause trouble. These protesters are very lucky they are in such a peaceful country, like Canada because the police reaction in any other Country would be very very different!
They may have the right to have a peaceful protest but there is a line that should not be crossed. These protesters have gone way too far. They should all be arrested!
I am so proud of how our brave police men & women have handled themselves when faced with these thugs. They have been very patient and professional. They have handled the situation with intelligence, calmness and integrity.
Posted by: Jenny | 06/26/2010 at 04:21 PM
Probably cops who set the car on fire to justify a billion plus dollar convention
Posted by: Hans B | 06/26/2010 at 04:30 PM
How many broken windows and how much property damage is enough Toronto Star? You guys have been bitching about the cost of security, while your target market are out on the streets causing damage. When will you admit you guys were WRONG and the security was necessary?
Posted by: Mark | 06/26/2010 at 04:30 PM
Why do we need to spend a billion dollars on security -- this is why. You want cheaper security then stay home and stop smashing up property which doesn't belong to you and stop throwing things at the people hired to protect the city!!!
Posted by: Gerrit | 06/26/2010 at 04:47 PM
I'm all for protests, but when they're vandalizing stores with patrons and employees still inside, I question the method. They're endangering human life. I think it's time for the sound cannon.
Posted by: Nat.T | 06/26/2010 at 04:49 PM
I may be the only person in Toronto that blames Mr. Harper for having the G20 in our city. This is the way to spend money....they knew this was coming, don't think for a second they didn't. They knew the damage would come. As for the protestors....a peaceful march is one thing. Defacing property and causing unrest is another. I hope the ones doing the damage are caught and held accountable.
Posted by: Changes | 06/26/2010 at 04:53 PM
@4:10pm the Toronto star writes: "Protestors are showing compassion to pedestrians and the public."
Who is writing this? You' gotta be kidding me!
Posted by: SmackTO | 06/26/2010 at 04:54 PM
Hans, you're a damn fool. If it weren't for the violent element, we wouldn't have had a $1B bill for this bloody event. I think most of us found the expense a complete waste, but it's the senseless violence that caused it. I'd just as soon never have the G-20 in the first place. Short of that, we should be hosting the next one in Resolute. Let the anarchists congregate in Nunavut next time.
Posted by: Derek | 06/26/2010 at 05:03 PM
I'm watching all this from behind my laptop and all I can think is these rioters are as bad or worse that the G20 they hate. They lash out at the shops downtown not caring one whit for the people inside or the fact that they are destroying someone else's private property. They think the fact that life is unfair means they can burn everything. I think that's what this is really about, a lot of misanthropes and losers finding an excuse to hurt the world that they can't deal with. I say gas them, do whatever has to be done to put the enemies of civilization in their place.
Posted by: Dan | 06/26/2010 at 05:30 PM
The behaviour being demonstrated in the streets today is nothing short of disgusting - and, frankly, a mockery. Protesting is one thing. This kind of display is completely irresponsible.
Posted by: Caz | 06/26/2010 at 05:32 PM
This violence is on people like Sid Ryan who think marching down the streets will make everyone believe whatever banner they're carrying is actually true and useful. They know a march will be infiltrated by these stinking anarchists but they don't care as long as they get their names in the paper or some TV facetime.
Posted by: m sled | 06/26/2010 at 05:37 PM
All I can say is one two words... INHUMANE and DISGUSTING....
Posted by: Disgusted Citizen of Earth | 06/26/2010 at 05:40 PM
Those cop cars were decoys, on purpose.
Posted by: TikTok | 06/26/2010 at 06:08 PM
These protesters have done an excellent job in accomplishing absolutely NOTHING. Smashing windows and terrorizing innocent people via immature actions does nothing to gain sympathy for any issue no matter how valid.
Round these people up and ship them off to Iran, let them protest there and we'll see how long they will be able to get away with these antics. Hats off to the police here for dealing with this situation with patience....lets the children tire themselves out.
Posted by: RD | 06/26/2010 at 06:14 PM
The Sri Lankan protest over the winter proved that mayor Miller and the Toronto Police are not equipped to deal with this sort of stuff, the Armed Forces should have been put in charge of the G20 security.
Posted by: Sam Smith | 06/26/2010 at 06:27 PM
Man the police need to get these people... they are all dumb and need to go home... i hope they all get put in jail
Posted by: stupid protests | 06/26/2010 at 06:49 PM
Please don't confuse legit protesters with vandals.
Posted by: areyouthick? | 06/26/2010 at 07:09 PM
I have covered the event for Iranian Canadian community tv , i interviewed some activists which all were wondering why there is was not any riot in the last 20 year s during the various protests , why police and security forces are heavily presenting across D.T.
police could control those who were going for any riots since they were known to the police.
police could prevent the clash by acting more wisely than showing off their riot equipment and back horse.
there was an unconfirmed report which some times ago an anarchist group was reached by some governmental forces in order to legitimate the huge spending tab on G8and G20 . the issue was raised by the police , too.
it looks to me Harper could do the G20 at Huntsville if they did not have any hidden agenda
best
Saeef Soltanpour
Freelance Journalist
Posted by: saeed soltanpour | 06/26/2010 at 07:17 PM
hey protesters! WHY DONT YOU ACTUALLY PROTEST SOMETHING INSTEAD OF TRASHING TORONTO. like are you really proving anything? they spent enough money for the G20 and now your making them spend EVEN more to fix all your bullshit. ughhn this makesn me sooo angry!!!!! oh and natives pay some taxes if you want your damn human rights.. seriously is this really doing anything?! maybe the next G20 should be kept on the low down..
Posted by: Rachel Heming | 06/26/2010 at 08:05 PM
I was walking to Eatons Centre on Yonge street when I saw the violent protestors. They should be stopped much earlier!
Civilians shouldn't have to run away from these terrorist protestors.
Posted by: L | 06/26/2010 at 08:19 PM
This is NOT the way to make a point! Come on use your heads!!!
Posted by: Use your brain not violence | 06/26/2010 at 08:33 PM
I applaud the protesters for not being cowed by the immense police presence and for their audacity. Unfortunately the media then focuses on their actions and demonizes them rather then focusing on the real criminals. The fat cat politicians behind steel gates and an army of security ensuring that all of us foot the bill for the vicissitudes of wall street, and every corrupt corporation that had their hands out when the bottom fell out of our economy. They torched patrol cars and broke a few windows...it's the least that could be done to express the rage of being overtaxed, stepped upon, bled dry and disenfranchised. It's such a breath of fresh air from the usual apathetic Toronto. Today I am proud to say that I am a Torontonian.
Posted by: Disgustipated | 06/26/2010 at 10:33 PM
The next G8 G20 meetings in North America should be held in a place like Birmingham, Alabama, Jackson, Mississippi, or Chicago where they know how to handle violent protests. The police should first protect the well being and property of the citizens using whatever means are necessary. Nightsticks, dogs, yes even shotguns should be used. I'll wager that if the first protester who threw a brick through a window had his head cracked the next guy with a brick would think better of it.
Posted by: Gary | 06/26/2010 at 10:44 PM