Post by alliehalliwell on Jun 26, 2010 19:09:10 GMT -5
So, this year the G8/G20 summit meeting is in Toronto. Today it was the G20 and right now there's a reception/dinner for the world leaders. It's also getting really insane. People being attacked, cars being set on fire, stores being smashed...its crazy.
And...just now the news is saying there's also ANOTHER police car being set on fire. Reportedly about the 5th or 6th one today.
There were about 10,000 protestors in the city today, and one group of protestors (about 300 people) that have gone violent. Even though there were a lot of preparations and precautions taken, they couldn't really stop everything. These violent protestors called "the Black Block" all wore black with parts of their faces covered and broke away from the protests, charging police and stores. They smashed up store windows of mom & pop stores, a couple banks, and other businesses. They didn't care which stores to hit or who got hurt.
On the news, they interviewed this famous protestor Craig Keilberger who has been doing peaceful protests, met the Prime Minister and President before...ever since he was 9 (and he's twenty something now). He said that everything was good and peaceful before the Black Block broke away and started their attacks on the city. He also said he witnessed the Black Block beating a security guard. A reporter said he saw a woman standing outside Starbucks when the Black Block smashed the windows of the store and shoved her down. They also caught on camera, some of the Black Block, stopping to pull off the black clothes - they had other clothes underneath so they could blend in with the peaceful protestors.
Some protestors are throwing things at cops. The news footage shows this and even though things are being chucked at them, the cops are handling things well so far and haven't panicked. I personally would freak out, but this just shows how brave all the cops are. One of the police officers heading the security said people have been calling them already, thanking the police for handling things well and protecting the city - so at least people recognize that the cops aren't the bad guys - which these Black Block protestors obviously think.
According to all the interviews so far, it looks like the Black Block protestors seem to be from outside of Toronto. Toronto mayor Miller made a good point that at some embassies and busnisses (such as the American Embassy) there are protests daily and nothing ever turns violent (with the exception of an incident 15 years ago). So these violent protestors are apparently anarchists from all over Canada.
It's a shame, because if anyone is trying to protest, this violents prevents any message from getting out. I don't see any point in violence, or trying to destroy the city. I feel bad for the cops, and for the innocent people getting attacked and having their stores ruined (to which the city so far doesn't have a fund set up to help them fix).
It's crazy and there's still protests going on now and tomorrow. I really hope it gets better...
And...just now the news is saying there's also ANOTHER police car being set on fire. Reportedly about the 5th or 6th one today.
There were about 10,000 protestors in the city today, and one group of protestors (about 300 people) that have gone violent. Even though there were a lot of preparations and precautions taken, they couldn't really stop everything. These violent protestors called "the Black Block" all wore black with parts of their faces covered and broke away from the protests, charging police and stores. They smashed up store windows of mom & pop stores, a couple banks, and other businesses. They didn't care which stores to hit or who got hurt.
On the news, they interviewed this famous protestor Craig Keilberger who has been doing peaceful protests, met the Prime Minister and President before...ever since he was 9 (and he's twenty something now). He said that everything was good and peaceful before the Black Block broke away and started their attacks on the city. He also said he witnessed the Black Block beating a security guard. A reporter said he saw a woman standing outside Starbucks when the Black Block smashed the windows of the store and shoved her down. They also caught on camera, some of the Black Block, stopping to pull off the black clothes - they had other clothes underneath so they could blend in with the peaceful protestors.
Some protestors are throwing things at cops. The news footage shows this and even though things are being chucked at them, the cops are handling things well so far and haven't panicked. I personally would freak out, but this just shows how brave all the cops are. One of the police officers heading the security said people have been calling them already, thanking the police for handling things well and protecting the city - so at least people recognize that the cops aren't the bad guys - which these Black Block protestors obviously think.
According to all the interviews so far, it looks like the Black Block protestors seem to be from outside of Toronto. Toronto mayor Miller made a good point that at some embassies and busnisses (such as the American Embassy) there are protests daily and nothing ever turns violent (with the exception of an incident 15 years ago). So these violent protestors are apparently anarchists from all over Canada.
It's a shame, because if anyone is trying to protest, this violents prevents any message from getting out. I don't see any point in violence, or trying to destroy the city. I feel bad for the cops, and for the innocent people getting attacked and having their stores ruined (to which the city so far doesn't have a fund set up to help them fix).
It's crazy and there's still protests going on now and tomorrow. I really hope it gets better...