G20 police aggression

[Thorn]

I’m not disputing the public’s right to protest,

I don’t see any positive results from all these G20 protests……….What this tells me is that the protestors are either not mature and/or smart enough to effect “positive change” with their cause or they’re just making a noise and a fuss for shits and giggles………Be that as it may, seeing these idiots getting tear gassed and hit with riot batons is slowly becoming a form of entertainment……….If life gives you lemons………hey, free lemons

Hmmmm. You support the public's right to protest, but even if they do it peacefully you enjoy watching them being beaten and tear gassed. Have I got that pretty much right?

[Guest Derek L]

Hmmmm. You support the public's right to protest, but even if they do it peacefully you enjoy watching them being beaten and tear gassed. Have I got that pretty much right?

Yup, about just as much as I enjoy the idiots on Tosh.0............We can’t legislate stupidity, so make the most out of it I say.

[Saipan]

Given this comment, you're obviously the idiot.

I always wondered if the rules of the forum are only to control the conservatives.

Now I don't have to wonder

[g_bambino]

As far as I'm aware, all the official marches moved on the designated routes. The major notable group which moved off down an unaproved route would be the idiots who moved off to riot, and who the police left completely alone to do their business.

To be honest, I don't know all the details of who was where when over those two days. But, what you say does sound generally right; there were organised and ordered protests on pre-arranged routes and then there were mobs that simply moved into streets like College, University, and Queen. However, in the latter occurrence (at the intersection of College and University, in fact), where I personally witnessed the crowd overtake the intersection, trapping cars and the people in them in the melee, and the windows of said cars being smashed by passers by, the police were indeed there, on horseback, blocking the crowd from turning down University and trying to push them up towards Queen's Park. I didn't stick around there long enough to see what eventually happened.

[g_bambino]

You should see the videos and find out for yourself. I'll even help you out a bit.

Thanks for trying to help, but that footage is from the wrong day. That's from Sunday, 27 June, whereas the case referred to in the OP relates to events on Saturday, 26 June.

[Saipan]

Hmmmm. You support the public's right to protest, but even if they do it peacefully you enjoy watching them being beaten and tear gassed. Have I got that pretty much right?

Where is your evidence?

[Saipan]

I personally witnessed the crowd overtake the intersection, trapping cars and the people in them in the melee, and the windows of said cars being smashed by passers by

Wouldn't happen to me. One window smashed and I step on a gas.

[g_bambino]

Wouldn't happen to me. One window smashed and I step on a gas.

That would've resulted in running people down, which likely would land you in the kind of trouble that would cost more than replacing the glass on your car.

[g_bambino]

the police actions against people people protesting in a number of so called protest zones and agreed to areas is indefenceabale... The protester excercising ther right to peaceful protest, and the kettling and arrest (for no reason) of those people was an egregious violation of their rights was disgusting.

The kettling incident took place a) on the Sunday, not the Saturday, the day on which events related to the case cited in the OP took place and at the intersection of Spadina and Queen, which was not a protest zone.

[fix]

Edited August 22, 2011 by g_bambino

[CitizenX]

It's amazing and sad to see how Conservative ideology and Totalitarianism go hand in hand. Your free to do what we tell you to do. You only have rights as long as we let you have them.

Edited August 24, 2011 by CitizenX

[g_bambino]

It's amazing and sad to see how Conservative ideology and Totalitarianism go hand in hand. Your free to do what we tell you to do. You only have rights as long as we let you have them.

I think you'll find the limitations are necessary, regardless of politics. Civilization cannot stand on the premise that everyone can do whatever they want whenever they want.

[William Ashley]

The kettling incident took place a) on the Sunday, not the Saturday, the day on which events related to the case cited in the OP took place and at the intersection of Spadina and Queen, which was not a protest zone.

[fix]

Yeah since when do constitutional rights get put to "zones" of exercise.

[g_bambino]

Yeah since when do constitutional rights get put to "zones" of exercise.

Since the Magna Carta.

[CitizenX]

I think you'll find the limitations are necessary, regardless of politics. Civilization cannot stand on the premise that everyone can do whatever they want whenever they want.

I think that was the problem. The police in this case broke the law multiple times, Civilization can't stand on a corrupt legal system. P.S. People should be able to do what ever they want when ever they want as long as they don't hurt others or there property (95% of protesters).

Edited August 27, 2011 by CitizenX

[g_bambino]

People should be able to do what ever they want when ever they want as long as they don't hurt others or there property.

I'm sure you'll find that enough inconvenience and thoughtlessness will irritate others as much as a bit of hurt and, in the end, lead to conflict.

[CitizenX]

I'm sure you'll find that enough inconvenience and thoughtlessness will irritate others as much as a bit of hurt and, in the end, lead to conflict.

I have more faith in people.

[g_bambino]

I have more faith in people.

Maybe true, but entirely irrelevant.

[GostHacked]

Thanks for trying to help, but that footage is from the wrong day. That's from Sunday, 27 June, whereas the case referred to in the OP relates to events on Saturday, 26 June.

So the violence was on Saturday (no arguments here), and the arrests happened the next day. So that helps support the argument of police aggression, when they should have done their job the day before and detain the people who were trashing the cop cars. They allowed the cars to be trashed. Over a billion spent on security and they did not do their job when it was needed.

Instead they roamed the streets in large numbers detaining people who had no involvement in any of the violence. The cops corralled and detaind that whole lot on Spedina Ave. Cops saying 'GO HOME' all while blocking all routes and preventing that from happening.

Also kicking people out of these so called 'protest zones' at a couple parks in the Toronto area.Nothing but blatant police aggression. They had the right to be there and got moved out anyways, many with more force than needed. But yet, should not have happened.

There is no way I can support the actions of the police's pitiful actions through the entire summit.

You no longer have the right to free speech and the right to protest. Eventually you'll need a permit to have the oppourtunity to protest and free speech.

Edited August 27, 2011 by GostHacked

[g_bambino]

So that helps support the argument of police aggression, when they should have done their job the day before and detain the people who were trashing the cop cars.

That's another very complex matter. I was focused specifically on the notion of letting crowds of people overtake streets at will.

[GostHacked]

That's another very complex matter. I was focused specifically on the notion of letting crowds of people overtake streets at will.

So why did the cops just stand there when the hooligans were trashing the cop cars and the shops on that street? Why did the cops not do their job?

[g_bambino]

So why did the cops just stand there when the hooligans were trashing the cop cars and the shops on that street? Why did the cops not do their job?

How could I possibly know? I could probably come up with a few theories, but I certainly can't say for sure, what with me not being a police officer, nor having been anywhere near the command centre that weekend.

[GostHacked]

How could I possibly know? I could probably come up with a few theories, but I certainly can't say for sure, what with me not being a police officer, nor having been anywhere near the command centre that weekend.

Sounds like petty excuses from someone who wants to pussyfoot around the issue at hand. The cops failed to do their job when it was required. Plain and simple.

[Tilter]

So why did the cops just stand there when the hooligans were trashing the cop cars and the shops on that street? Why did the cops not do their job?

Ahhhh--- did you read all the comments about the cops doing too much?

Let's face it--the cops were faced with a lose/lose situation and they are still losing.

[PIK]

Protesters protest, thugs wreck the place. And look at what happened in TO, the police would not hard enough. What ruins free speech is the ass holes that take it to far in the name of free speech. Looting is not freedom of expression.

[GostHacked]

Protesters protest, thugs wreck the place. And look at what happened in TO, the police would not hard enough. What ruins free speech is the ass holes that take it to far in the name of free speech. Looting is not freedom of expression.

So why were the looters not detained when the looting took place? Why did they let it happen then crack heads the next day. Think about it.