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Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Breaking News Man Down

Posted by Paul Constant on Wed, Apr 1, 2009 at 7:00 PM

A man has died while protesting the G20 summit in London, the Guardian reports.

Comments (10) RSS

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Fnarf hasn't chimed in yet? Well, I'm pretty sure he'll be here any minute telling us that this man deserved to die, and anyone in London without a G20 badge deserves to be shot in the back of the head by the police.

Posted by thereby proving will in seattle is a much better person on April 1, 2009 at 7:30 PM

I guess that headline is pretty much all of the story we'll get now that they've changed to a Twitter-only format:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/apr…

Posted by kinaidos on April 1, 2009 at 7:32 PM

Oh and of course it was natural causes. When they conduct an inquest the jury will be instructed that they can either return *natural causes* or *needled to death by bog fairies*.

Posted by kinaidos on April 1, 2009 at 7:34 PM

We need to ensure that three CEOs are executed too.

That would be fair.

Posted by Will in Seattle on April 1, 2009 at 7:59 PM

That was worth it, wasn't it?

Posted by The CHZA on April 1, 2009 at 8:22 PM

The thing about these police-protest confrontations is that they obscure the real power dynamics. The cops aren't the enemy; they're just trying to keep all hell from breaking loose. While I have no doubt that for every ignorant bottle-throwing anarchist there's at least one cop looking for an excuse to beat up and tear gas people he doesn't like, the role of the police as a whole is to enforce the law. That the law favors the powerful (and in particular the financial interests that got the world in the current mess) is not the fault of the police.

So fighting with the police is not going to get you anywhere, ever. The trick is to use public demonstrations to build sympathy for your cause, which builds political power. Then the people in suits have to change or risk the general public and even the police siding in favor of a new balance of power that favors the protesters. Real revolution comes when the police are on your side, and the bankers are the ones that have to worry about being arrested.

Posted by Cascadian on April 1, 2009 at 8:44 PM

"bottles were thrown at police medics trying to help him."

Yes, building sympathy for your cause.

Posted by Fnarf on April 1, 2009 at 8:45 PM

Another tragedy...due to Global Warming!

Posted by Gorebots At The Ready on April 2, 2009 at 8:26 AM

Looks like Will in Seattle's sentiment is outnumbered.

Posted by Chip Chipmunk on April 2, 2009 at 8:50 AM

Really, Chip.

So, I suppose you didn't read the article and note it said 63 arrests, 5,000 bobbies, and TENS OF THOUSANDS of protesters then.

Face it, you're in the minority.

Posted by Will in Seattle on April 2, 2009 at 10:33 AM