G8/G20 2010

still dont understand why the billion was not spent building a major runway and hotel and water and sewer treatment plants up north in the middle of nowhere. Hell build it next to some underserviced reserve and just let them have it afterward so they can use it for revenue generation.

Having been to multiple protests-turned-riot, I can safely say that at least half the time, the violence is started by the cops. No masks, no pretending to be on the other side, they just stir up a ruckus and use peoples reactions to justify arresting everyone in sight, beating, tear-gassing, etc... I honestly have no idea WHY they do it, but I've seen it so many times. Mind you, the ones I was at were in Montreal and the cops are pretty fucky there. It wouldn't shock me if Ontario cops pulled the same sh1t though because they're pretty fucky too in all other regards.

*disclaimer* Not all cops in Ontario or Montreal are civilian-beating-power-tripping-a$$holes, just a higher proportion than there are in smaller cities, like Winnipeg. Somehow those guys always end up on the riot-squad. *le sigh*

"use peoples reactions to justify arresting everyone in sight, beating,
tear-gassing, etc... I honestly have no idea WHY they do it,"


because it sounds fun?

Personally...I think most the cops were pretty reserved and professional throughout.

Once the mayhem starts...there will ALWAYS be a couple of cops who get their adrenaline up and overstep their authority...and those few will be the negative the media and protesters will focus on. But that's human nature...and NO amount of training can turn that off.

If you consider a few facts...you'll see the numbers and resolve of the officers.

There were approximately 5000 officers on the streets (working in shifts...so really only about 2-3k at any given time).
There were approximately 40000 "protesters". This includes the vandals, and even those just "standing around".
There were approximately 2000 media personnel (between press, radio, tv, internet reporters and their crews).

Now...of those 40k...an estimated 1500 were actually vandals causing problems and destroying things.
Of the 2000 media...approximately 200 were not just reporting, they were inciting and even protesting.

The FIRST cop car that was lit on fire should've triggered an automatic "shoot on site" order for the police...but they were ordered to "allow" the mayhem, and just hold the security perimeter.
Anyone lighting a cop car on fire not only vandalizes the car, but they also put surrounding bystanders and officers' lives at risk, as there is fuel, ammo, and emergency equipment that is volatile stored in the vehicles. That SHOULD be an automatic attempted homicide charge...and anyone carrying flaming bottles to light another one on fire should've been shot as such.

Also remember MOST of the officers on the streets had been working 12-14 hour shifts for 4 days straight prior to the mayhem breaking out. Even those that arrive on that Saturday had been working the G8 conference for the 4 days prior.

900 arrests is pretty good considering what was happening...and 0 deaths? That shows ENORMOUS resolve from the police...and tolerance for the ignorance and stupidity of those who claimed they were "protesting" anything at all.

Hopefully, all the video cameras that were setup around the city, and the news footage will be reviewed over the next several months, and ANYONE involved in terrorist activities will be prosecuted as terrorists...because that all those idiots were!!!

Well, I have to confess that I wasn't there, didn't see it and I am biased because I've watched cops incite a riot, then turn around and brutalize and arrest me and threaten to shoot my dog when I was trying to get my friends together and get out of there. That is, admittedly a different place, different time, but my point is that the whole truth never gets reported and some of these "conspiracy theories" are not so far off the mark.

MissFae- If you look as good as your picture, then that is the reason you were brutalized, and it has nothing to do with protesting, it has to do with your very good looks! If you looked like DeanK you would be safe! lol

AgesAces- your numbers quoted are not accurate- 1500 vandals, and I read 150- that is a huge difference. I don't know whose number is accurate because all the reporting is bullcrap, and is dependant on who wants to make the bigger splash in their report!
If the media didn't report any of this crap, I think it would be better.
They don't report on all the peaceful protests, because it isn't "NEWSWORTHY" in their opinion.
The idiot kids in masks look like they are 14 years old, and should be spanked by their parents!
They have nothing to do with protesters, because they aren't old enough to have a thought.
Who believe's that any protest is being reported to the G20 or G8 leaders? Where did this idea start? The protesters are all so stupid, except if their intent was to get an interviw! To get an interview, the media tells them to burn that police car, or smash that glass window and get me that piece of merchandise! lol

Well had it been that kind of brutalizing, I might not have objected :p

Well, for starters, there were over 20,000 people that were involved in the meetings. That's a lot to accomodate in the middle of nowhere.

JTF wrote:Well, for starters, there were over 20,000 people that were involved in the meetings. That's a lot to accomodate in the middle of nowhere.

ONE BILLION DOLLARS!

Think of all the nice shinny riot gear that was purchased with that loot.

Deank wrote:

JTF wrote:Well, for starters, there were over 20,000 people that were involved in the meetings. That's a lot to accomodate in the middle of nowhere.

ONE BILLION DOLLARS!

Dean, you and I BOTH know that if they spent a billion dollars on making a structure in the middle of nowhere that would only be used ONCE, you'd be complaining about that expenditure too!

JTF wrote:Think of all the nice shinny riot gear that was purchased with that loot.

Think of all the people who made that riot gear, they in turn used the money they get from making it to feed their little kids so that they too can one day be a productive member of society, or protest how hard done by they are.

Alot of these dimwits protesting have no frigging idea how good they have it in our society. Try protesting in CHINA, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran... etc... Hell try to live your current lifestyle useing their wages or better yet try living their lifestyle.

Mantha wrote:

Deank wrote:

JTF wrote:Well, for starters, there were over 20,000 people that were involved in the meetings. That's a lot to accomodate in the middle of nowhere.

ONE BILLION DOLLARS!

Dean, you and I BOTH know that if they spent a billion dollars on making a structure in the middle of nowhere that would only be used ONCE, you'd be complaining about that expenditure too!

I aint admitting to nuthin.

[quote="LivingDead"]

JTF wrote:Alot of these dimwits protesting have no frigging idea how good they have it in our society. Try protesting in CHINA, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran... etc...

heh. An active protester friend of mine who is in Toronto right now, has been posting videos on his Facebook profile all week, and one of them was of a riot in North Korea. His comment on the video went along the lines of "Canadian cops are so reactionary and out to start trouble! Look how much leeway protesters get in North Korea before cops act".

He's right. The North Korean police waited until pretty much the entire street was on fire and littered with upside down cars before beating everyone.

What a waste of resources! No one asks for a cost/benefit report! The bureaucrats don't care! there is no accountability at all! This is Harper's bazaro thing!
In the Globe and Mail yesterday a letter to the editer points out that harper pledged one billion dollars over 5 years for some health for women thing, and doesn't plan to take it from new money. So he pledges that amount and blows 1.2 Billion in 3 days !
Horrible , Horrible, and I voted for him and to vote for Ignatieff would probably be worse.
Way too much money for Harper and that shrimpy finance minister. That Finance Minister is smaller than all of the Asians, and is so embarassing to see him in a crowg of financiers!.

LivingDead wrote:

Think of all the people who made that riot gear, they in turn used the money they get from making it to feed their little kids so that they too can one day be a productive member of society, or protest how hard done by they are.

True enough, but really, why should we care about all those Chinese and Taiwanese anyway?

Since when are cops part of the Black-Bloc?

Interesting.....

Who were all those a$$holes out of uniform? Who was the rocket surgeon that thought that was a good idea?

that is one of the scariest women I have ever seen.

No kidding.

You know what is really scary? - being beaten down for trying to get home.....that is scary. This country should not support fascism. This was a stupid place to hold this summit. The summit was costly and after all is said and done, will cost more and for what? So a bunch of guys (and one woman) can have a private circle jerk and determine the new world order under the guise of fiscal responsibility?

And the beat goes on......or is that beatings or rather beating off?

I do not condone the actions of vandals but I will not support an hysterical police force either. Think about it because I do not believe for a second that some of you here who espouse certain points of view would like it too much if you were harassed trying to get from point A to point B when you have done nothing to deserve said harassment. What the hell is the use of having rights if one cannot have them respected?

Ahhhh....you all didn't hear that they had cops undercover?

That's how they identified the hooligans that they grabbed out of the crowd on Sat/Sun and knew/saw their MO upclose.

They did have videos and did follow them back to the dorm afterall.

From what I have observed in other riots in other locales, it is sometimes the undercover cops who are the hooligans. Agitprop is an effective tool no matter which "side" uses it. Mob mentality, hysteria....spreads like a virus. Come to think of it, so does fear.....whether it is justified or not.

They really should be holding these meetings in a middle of a huge empty field somewhere miles and miles away from any metropolitan area. Or on a cruise ship. Hold it in space! Let's see those protesters wreck anything out there!

Where you can see people coming. Spend 1/50th of what they did on security!