riots in Toronto

[lilacvioletiris 11]

I was really surprised when I read this headline this morning "Sewer gang among 500 held after G-20 Summit Rampage"

Seriously, do people think that breaking store windows in Toronto is going to change the fact that the summit is happening. There was some protester caught in a photo smashing a store window. Again, innocent store owners getting attacked by what the article calls "thugs". This is not the kind of "protest" I would expect in North America. What is the world coming to?

[warlord 73]

I was really surprised when I read this headline this morning "Sewer gang among 500 held after G-20 Summit Rampage"

Seriously, do people think that breaking store windows in Toronto is going to change the fact that the summit is happening. There was some protester caught in a photo smashing a store window. Again, innocent store owners getting attacked by what the article calls "thugs". This is not the kind of "protest" I would expect in North America. What is the world coming to?

From friends who live in Toronto, apparently the police let one car burn for hours before putting it out. I think because they wanted every media outlet to get a good photo so it could be front page news. Think most of the whole "rioting" is small incidents that the media has blown out to be some huge mega violence. I honestly would have exepected a real riot, instead North America is looking like a bunch of wimps to the rest of the world who actually have delt with real rioters...

[Sprailenes 47]

Some of these groups believe that violence is the only way they're going to get heard. They don't care about the summit, they care about their agenda. The funny thing is... I have no clue what these people are protesting... all I see is a bunch of them acting like morons... so they're not getting their point across. The government is never going away dumbasses.

There's a few who are just anarchists too who believe in all sorts of conspiracy theories and stuff.

When I found out that some of this ####### happened all the up on Pape yesterday, I was kind of shocked. It's like the whole city is turned upside down.

Off topic... I saw the motorcade coming from the G8 in Huntsville on Sunday... that was cool.

Tons of police cruisers and then a bunch of limos driving down hwy 11 South.

Edited June 28, 2010 by Sprailenes

[Dan and Ali 3]

Some of these groups believe that violence is the only way they're going to get heard. They don't care about the summit, they care about their agenda. The funny thing is... I have no clue what these people are protesting... all I see is a bunch of them acting like morons... so they're not getting their point across. The government is never going away dumbasses.

I feel the same way. It saddens me that they're acting like such morons and the rest of the world is thinking, "So this is what Canadians are like?"

[Sprailenes 47]

Here's some great photos from the Toronto star that people submitted over the weekend..

http://www.thestar.com/fplarge/photo/825812

Most of the people I work with had no idea this was going on, so any concern we have of people viewing Canada differently... I think we're okay.

[ValerieA 350]

I feel the same way. It saddens me that they're acting like such morons and the rest of the world is thinking, "So this is what Canadians are like?"

I wonder how many of the ones actually causing the problems were Canadian? Maybe they all were, but it would be interesting to know how much of the crowd was not from Canada.

[Sprailenes 47]

Fourth photo in, guy on the police speaker... kind of looks like iggy pop.

[lilacvioletiris 11]

I wonder how many of the ones actually causing the problems were Canadian? Maybe they all were, but it would be interesting to know how much of the crowd was not from Canada.

I was thinking the same thing, because Canadians seem to be "law abiding people" not given to acts of unwarranted violence.

[The_Dude 1,142]

I had completely forgotten about the G8/G20 summit when I was sending my dog to Canada to be with my wife. Air Canada has some rules about her being too big (10 lb dog) to go under the seat, and because of temperature restrictions, they she couldn't go under the seat. So, I had to send her on Air Canada Cargo. I feel like a complete moron for overlooking the date and time. The flight arrived in Toronto at 7:45 p.m....... just as all the world leaders were making their way to the airport to depart. It took my wife and her sister 3 hours to get to the airport from the time they arrived in Toronto. The police were telling them they had to turn around and come back the next day. sigh.

The thing I don't get about rioters is how callous and openly they do this. Do they not realize that the police will actually take all these pictures and video footage and break it down to identify people whom they have not already arrested? I remember after the L.A. riots in 1994, they were arresting people for years after the riots.

[Sprailenes 47]

I wonder how many of the ones actually causing the problems were Canadian? Maybe they all were, but it would be interesting to know how much of the crowd was not from Canada.

The Black bloc was known to be causing most of the violence, they are Canadian and mostly come from Quebec.

This happened about 10 years ago at the Summit of Americas... most were Canadian there too.

If you read up on it, there were certain protests that were peaceful but the police started using violence. They had arrested one man for not following orders - he was deaf. This caused the crowd to become quite angry. I am not justifying the behavior of anyone... just giving some insight into what was going on.

The thought that this "can't be Canadians" is a tad naive. These were mostly leftest hippies - that sounds pretty Canadian to me.

Edited June 29, 2010 by Sprailenes

[The_Dude 1,142]

I dont' see how people could be shocked that canadians could do this at all. Just look at Quebec, seems they riot every time they win a playoff series in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Just 16 months ago, when I was in Montreal for our visa interview, they were rioting.

[lgg 2]

Let's go up to Canada and ruffle some feathers! Those sweet, innocent Canadians sitting around eating bacon and talking aboot the queen could really use some lessons in butt kicking!! They're Urban Outfitter stores need some bustin' up!

Hmmm... I don't think so. NOt saying that they were ALL Canadian but really? i would suggest that most of the idiot protesters are/were Canadian. As a canadian, i'm pretty upset that we acted like a bunch of aholes. Hope they realize that any of the groups out there that had anything important or valid to say are now buried under a pile of b.s. and STILL not being heard..

good job, country men.

[The_Dude 1,142]

I really don't understand why they riot. The anarchists have insufficient numbers to do anything but be annoying, and the other protesters just make themselves look like fringe loons to the global media. In the end, it was just embarassing all around. They invalidate their message with their antics.

[warlord 73]

I really don't understand why they riot. The anarchists have insufficient numbers to do anything but be annoying, and the other protesters just make themselves look like fringe loons to the global media. In the end, it was just embarassing all around. They invalidate their message with their antics.

They want to riot for the sake of rioting and now had a good excuse and outlet to do it. I'm sure if it was any even with protesters, they'd show up just to cause ####### like they just did. They don't care what the cause is, they just use it as an excuse to create havoc and damage things. Add this to the fact they're probably loving coming over into English territory and doing it in Toronto as another statement...

[Sprailenes 47]

I have asked at least 20 people, if not more about the riots this weekend. None of them heard about it...most didn't even know about the G20 happening.

Don't worry Canada, you're secret is safe.

Edited June 29, 2010 by Sprailenes