Moose Jaw Forum

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They should be able to peacefully protest all that they like but once it turns into anarchy and they start the violent stuff it is time to take action.

Police in riot gear and protesters continued to clash Saturday evening following a massive anti-G20 protest march through downtown Toronto that saw at least two police vehicles set ablaze, store and bank windows smashed, and much of the area put under security lockdowns.

The police cruisers were torched at the corner of King and Bay streets in the heart of the city's financial district, sending plumes of black smoke into the air. At one point, as one vehicle burned, protesters surrounded police officers who were trying to protect the car, CBC reporter Amber Hildebrandt reported on Twitter.

The size of the protest crowd was estimated to be as high as 10,000. Witnesses said tear gas had been used in the area around the provincial legislature at College and University, but police denied any had been used in the city.

Toronto Mayor David Miller said a small group of "thugs" are to blame for the violence.

“People are calling them protesters. That is not fair to the people who came to protest,” he said.

Toronto police Sgt. Tim Burrows said there have been minor injuries. He added he couldn't confirm how many people have been arrested.

The summit was set to begin later Saturday evening with a working dinner hosted by Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

With the violence escalating in the heart of Canada's largest city, the entire area around the summit site at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre — enclosed by concrete barricades and fences — is under a security lockdown.

Transit halted
The area's boundaries include Wellington Street to the north, Lakeshore and Bremner boulevards to the south, Windsor Street and Blue Jays Way to the west and a section of Bay Street to the east.

Subway service in downtown Toronto remained suspended, with no service in the loop between Bloor and St. George stations, and no streetcars or bus service, as well

A police car burns after G20 summit protesters set fire to it in downtown Toronto on Saturday. (Chris Young/Canadian Press)GO train service in and out of Union Station has also been stopped.

The airspace over downtown Toronto has also been closed, as has the Gardiner Expressway, one of the city's major traffic arteries.

Some hospitals, hotels, businesses and the tourist attraction the Eaton Centre are also under lockdown.

As the demonstration started just after 1 p.m. ET at the Ontario legislature, the mood was upbeat and peaceful. Protesters danced, clapped and chanted while carrying signs, flags and umbrellas as they first moved from the legislature grounds down one of the city's main thoroughfares, University Avenue.

But the mood turned ugly as anarchists in a splinter groups broke away in attempts to move toward the summit site. They dress similar to members of the Black Block, a group that has used violence such as widespread vandalism in past G20 protests.

Group members are known for wearing black hoodies, masks, balaclavas and skateboard helmets.

As the hours went on, protesters smashed windows on both sides of Yonge Street at the normally busy shopping area in the Yonge-Dundas corridor. Witnesses said rioters smashed the info booth of the large Future Shop electronics store.

"It's a sizable crowd and getting bigger and bigger" in some areas, the CBC's Steven D'Souza reported. "It doesn't look too dangerous, but it is gathering momentum where I am right now."

'Why do they come here and make problems and make problems for every store?'— Myung Hwon Yang, store owner
Steven Connor, who works at the Hard Rock Café near the Eaton Centre, said several glass store fronts were smashed, with some protesters using street pylons and road equipment, as some people were inside.

No one seemed to be injured, Connor said.

"There's been a lot of damage in the downtown core," the CBC's Michael Serapio reported.

Michael Hyatt, who was at a gym near Yonge and Dundas streets, said the protesters seemed to target a number of U.S.-based chains.

“It is pretty horrible what they have done to a lot of the stores here. They’ve destroyed the windows at an American Apparel — they destroyed all the windows and pulled out the mannequins and [threw] feces into the store.

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“It stinks and it is unbelievable. Foot Locker is destroyed. Pizza Pizza is destroyed. They’ve kind of gone up the street and picked at every U.S. vendor they could find. It’s really kind of sad.”

Bricks, rocks thrown
On many downtown streets, many store windows were either broken with bricks or rocks, or defaced with graffiti. One bank on Queen Street West had its windows smashed, and a CBC van was damaged.

One convenience store owner said he was determined to stay open.

Protesters, including some who were wearing masks, take part in Saturday's march. (Nazim Walji/CBC)
"It's important for countries to meet, but an island area is better. Why do they come here and make problems and make problems for every store?" Myung Hwon Yang told CBC News.

In one incident, a man dressed in red was arrested and then dragged screaming into a police van. As it happened, a large crowd gathered, denouncing police and chanting "Let him go."

Miller said police took thorough preparations ahead of the summit and did a "commendable job under difficult circumstances."

"I'm sure there have been small moments where perhaps there’s some tensions between a crowd and the police," Miller told reporters. "In the broad brush, I think we should be very confident in their work."

He added that Toronto police Chief Bill Blair had been very clear in recent days that authorities would facilitate a lawful, democratic protest, while expressing concern about groups who "come here just to perpetrate violence."

"We've seen that his concern was justified," Miller said.



Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2010/06/ ... z0s0NwwBLg

There may be only a small group who are acting violently, but once the violence began, anyone who remained as part of that mob, whether actively violent or not, are aiding the violent ones by shielding them. They are equally as guilty as the violent.

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Is it just me but from what I read that these Black Agitators (wearing black) do not do this other than to do it?
Maybe this is some kind of new reality sport.
I don't agree with their methods and I try to get them out of my hair like a bad case of dandruff.
As far as people peacefully protesting it is their right.
I don't know about these contact sport people though.