G20: Riots in Toronto this weekend.

[samurainoir]

I think it's pretty obvious how much I love my city.

All the craziness in the news is not my city. It's sad and unfortunate.

[mego73]

I've been to Toronto a couple times, love it. These thugs will pass.

[toys2cool]

what happened?

[jwyblejr]

^Pretty much the same garbage that seems to follow G20 no matter where it goes. These dork protesters just need to let them do their jobs.

[Mikey]

What's G20 ?

[MegoAddict]

ya i live here in Toronto as well..crazy couple of days..can;t wait till it's all cleared up and we can move along

[Brazoo]

Yeah Ed, it's a shame. I live at College and Spadina, I talked to and saw tons of legitimate peaceful protesters walking back after the first signs of violence yesterday. It really is just a bunch or moronic hooligans causing problems because they can. A real shame.

Without getting too political I really do commend the Toronto Police for using restraint and a well coordinated strategy for dealing with the eruption of wanton vandalism. I also think we can be proud that it never escalated too much past that point.

[Brazoo]

For those who don't know, Toronto held the G8 and G20 summit meetings this week.

If you're interested, look it up for more info, but basically the G8 is a meeting of the top 8 economic country's leaders which meet semi-annually since the early 70s. The G20 is fairly new, it's extended to the top 20 economic country's leaders. Each year a different G8 or G20 country has hosted the meeting and they're usually targeted by activist groups for staging large protests - and obviously having the top world's leaders in one place poses HUGE risks for security.

[Captain]

In light of the stupidity they had to put up with, I agree the TO police should be congratulated for not going gonzo on these goofs. I cant say I wouldnt whip out the heavy artillery if it was my police car that was torched. Of course if they had (and as the past has shown), if the polics did escalate things, it probably would have driven the protestors into a bigger frenzy and things would have got much worse.

I think they had a good idea when it was in Calgary a few years back (and Bush was still President). they held it in a remote resort in the Rockies, and had the army shut down the area for miles. I mentioned bush, because at the time it seemed he was attracting more protestors than the summit itself was. As a result, the Canadian government allowed the US military to also be present, and work in conjunction with our guys. There was some minor protesting in downtown Calgary, but because these hooligan goofballs didnt really have a place to target/congregate, not much came of it.

I think they need to really consider holding this thing at a remote location..the same remote location...every time. Honestly, I dont think much really ever gets done at them anyways? Why cause security headaches for the host cities every 6 months, when they dont need to?

[ctc]

Hmmmm....

Yeah; the troublemakers in this crowd are a small, semi-organized bunch working under the name of "Black Bloc." All told, things seem to be going pretty well, all things considered.

On a semi-related note: I was hoping to see some shots of the sonic cannons they mobilized for this!

Don C.

[fallensaviour]

Thinking about you guys today from the peg!!!

[palitoy]

I have a very good friend who worked the summit, he is still stranded in the compound, he had a hotel room but hasn't been there in 48 hours. I think he's sleeping under his desk currently. The photos he sent me from inside make it feel like a really good zombie film.

On Saturday morning my wife wanted to go down to the World's Biggest Bookstore, I said it probably wasn't a good idea as the downtown would have large crowds of protestors. Really glad we chose not to go.

I really have no problem with 90% of the people who went down and protested, it's their right. However, I have nothing but anger towards these spoiled, so called "anarchists" who pretend to have an agenda but merely wish to cause damage and endanger the lives of the other activists. When I heard about the female security guard being beaten up, I commend the Metro PD for not making a few "martyrs".

On a semi-related note: I was hoping to see some shots of the sonic cannons they mobilized for this!

Saw it in the paper, on Saturday I half hoped to see it in action.

[samurainoir]

I think they had a good idea when it was in Calgary a few years back (and Bush was still President). they held it in a remote resort in the Rockies, and had the army shut down the area for miles.

I think they need to really consider holding this thing at a remote location..the same remote location...every time. Honestly, I dont think much really ever gets done at them anyways? Why cause security headaches for the host cities every 6 months, when they dont need to?

Just to clarify the facts, Calgary hosted the G8 which is possible to hold in a remote location. The G8 here was in fact hosted in a remote location away from the city.

The issue is the G20, which requires a big city because the sheer volume of people involved. Huntsville, where the G8 was held, and other more remote locations and even smaller cities simply would not have the infrastructure in place to accommodate all those people.

[Captain]

Just to clarify the facts, Calgary hosted the G8 which is possible to hold in a remote location. The G8 here was in fact hosted in a remote location away from the city.

The issue is the G20, which requires a big city because the sheer volume of people involved. Huntsville, where the G8 was held, and other more remote locations and even smaller cities simply would not have the infrastructure in place to accommodate all those people.

Thats true...Good Point, but I still think they could use other digs, other than big (or small) cities.

I should have also mentioned we have had problems with organized protest groups (whose members are often PAID to attend these rallies) against the Tar Sands. I'll bet these "Black Bloc" bunch are financially supported somehow as well!?

[Brazoo]

I really have no problem with 90% of the people who went down and protested, it's their right. However, I have nothing but anger towards these spoiled, so called "anarchists" who pretend to have an agenda but merely wish to cause damage and endanger the lives of the other activists. When I heard about the female security guard being beaten up, I commend the Metro PD for not making a few "martyrs".

Yup. That's about my take too.

Captain, I guess anything is possible, but I just can't see it. With all the world leaders, advisors and press needing accommodations and security it's very hard for me to picture a remote place where they could do this. Toronto was packed pretty solid.