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News & ArtsSaturday, June 26, 2010
News Meanwhile In Toronto
Posted by Dan Savage on Sat, Jun 26, 2010 at 2:15 PM
G&M:
Thousands of protesters have taken over the streets of downtown Toronto as isolated groups of demonstrators smashed windows and confronted riot police. A crowd of black-clad protesters with bandanas covering their faces moved around the city centre, damaging property along the way. Several police cruisers were vandalized and two were lit ablaze as flames and black smoke billowed into the air. Sparks flew into the air from small explosions. Firefighters finally arrived after about 15 minutes. Tear gas was deployed at College Street and University Avenue shortly after 4:30 p.m. ET, but a police spokesman said he did not know whether it was used by police or protesters.
The next G20 meeting will have to be held on the International Space Station—or how about a nice little teleconference?
3
They've had them in the past out in the country somewhere. It must be some sort of pride thing that they have to do it in a big city usually.
4
I know of a nice spot down Cuba way they might consider for their next meeting. I think somebody wrote a song about girl from there.
5
Diego Garcia seems appropriate. (If you're unfamiliar, look it up on Granta)
But really, there's lots of Canada they could've used that would've eliminated all but the hardiest of protesters: when they had the G8 in the Kananaskis in 2002 -- which isn't all that far from Calgary -- the security personnel were more worried about bears than protesters. And in fact this summit isn't technically in Toronto, either: it's well outside the city among the lake cottages, but neither the protesters nor the media can get up there -- and so those two groups are acting out their codependency in Toronto instead.
But really, there's lots of Canada they could've used that would've eliminated all but the hardiest of protesters: when they had the G8 in the Kananaskis in 2002 -- which isn't all that far from Calgary -- the security personnel were more worried about bears than protesters. And in fact this summit isn't technically in Toronto, either: it's well outside the city among the lake cottages, but neither the protesters nor the media can get up there -- and so those two groups are acting out their codependency in Toronto instead.
6
WTO organization may posses some ass-holes, but their protesters are complete douche-bags. Their idiotic antics do the opposite of what they're intended to do.
7
Nobody in the G20 is even noticing these nonentities exist. They'll march, they'll chant, they'll wave their signs protesting 500 different things (I saw one that said "Stop Ethiopian something-or-other"), but they're less of a threat to the established order, or the Toronto police, than athlete's foot.
8
yes, they're idiots.
Meanwhile, world trade is working as expected, raising wages of some chinese folks up to over a hundred bucks a month. some of them are now striking and forming union movements independent of the state, woo hoo! and they are likely to raise wages even more.
this trade plus strikes plus organization has done more to raise living standards in china than all the anti trade protests in the west put together.
Meanwhile, world trade is working as expected, raising wages of some chinese folks up to over a hundred bucks a month. some of them are now striking and forming union movements independent of the state, woo hoo! and they are likely to raise wages even more.
this trade plus strikes plus organization has done more to raise living standards in china than all the anti trade protests in the west put together.
9
How horrible - leaders of large industrial countries having face to face meetings. It was all so much better when they hid behind their castle walls and dreamed up wild rumours about each other
10
@5 -- The G8 was held in Huntsville, a few hours outside of Toronto. However the G20 is indeed being held in Toronto, in the very heart of the financial district.
13
The G-8 held a meeting up in Iqaluit a few months ago. For some reason, the summit-hoppers didn't turn out for that one.
14
Fnarf dear, I worry about you - you're getting so cranky. Is it the andropause? I read about that in the Ladies Home Journal.
15
Catalina, it's surely that, but also the consumption of numerous 10% beers before lunchtime due to this true spectacle of globalism, the World Cup.
16
Comte @ 4: Perhaps I'm missing your allusion, but if it's Ipanema you mean, that's a beach in Rio, Brazil.
18
Reminds me a little bit of critical mass in that it initially started out as a reasonably well thought out and effective means of calling attention to a serious situation. Unfortunately, both took on a party and overly confrontational vibe and well outgrew any hopes they could've held for fomenting meaningful change or discussion.
And like Fnarf, I'm sort of tanked as a result of drowning my world cup frustrations in a well of drunkenness. That Ghanaian goalie was a freakin' beast. Kinda wish G20 protesters would go toss some fuckin' trashcans at him.
And like Fnarf, I'm sort of tanked as a result of drowning my world cup frustrations in a well of drunkenness. That Ghanaian goalie was a freakin' beast. Kinda wish G20 protesters would go toss some fuckin' trashcans at him.
19
For those who may not know, Canadian police have a habit of planting provocateurs in the crowd, dressed as "black bloc" protesters, with the intention of starting riots and giving the riot police excuses to move in. They were outed in Quebec in 2007, and admitted to the practice.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=St1-WTc1k…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=St1-WTc1k…
20
Apparently there's no "show ID" law in Canada, except around "Public Works" infrastrucuture (dams, power plants, etc.) So Toronto apparently made the G20 area a "Public Works" zone in an as-of-yet unpublished law --- Now they appear to be arresting people that unpublished law. Good times.
21
Also, for the record and in contradiction to what Fnarf and yucca flower suggest, during the WTO in Seattle the protestors had a very large and important impact on the delegates inside the summit meetings. Protest literature was on the delegate's tables inside the summit, and the delegates could clearly see that the USA was not united in pushing the neoliberal agenda on the rest of the world. Those things (amongs others) helped bolster their (successful) opposition to economic imperialism. It was a major win.
The following 'round' of the WTO was held in Doha, Qatar -- an actual police state where protesting gets you thrown in the oubliettes.
The following 'round' of the WTO was held in Doha, Qatar -- an actual police state where protesting gets you thrown in the oubliettes.
22
@ treacle,
I didn't say it had no effect....I said it had the opposite effect of what is intended. They come off looking like demented, violent, incoherent nut-bags. If they have an actual message, it is lost...or disregarded as the delusional maunderings of a pack of dolts.
I didn't say it had no effect....I said it had the opposite effect of what is intended. They come off looking like demented, violent, incoherent nut-bags. If they have an actual message, it is lost...or disregarded as the delusional maunderings of a pack of dolts.
23
A billion dollars on security, and the RCMP can't keep their own cruisers from being torched. Meanwhile, on the radio the cops are saying that this violence proves that all this spending was necessary. What a joke.
25
There have been anecdotal stories about this kind of behaviour for years from all across the country. The case in Montebello was the only time the police force in question admitted to the practice of infiltrating protest groups, however.
26
@16: I had the same reaction to COMTE's comment at first, and had a snarky reply lined up before I (just in case) googled it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guantanamer…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guantanamer…
28
As a Toronto resident, I am pretty saddened by the lack of solidarity from readers of The Stranger. I was under the misguided impression that this was an alternative newspaper read by people who might be critical of mainstream news media. It is deeply depressing to know that the response to a few smashed windows (and the burning of some abandoned junk police cars) is presumed to warrant the use of tear gas, rubber bullets and chasing citizens through the designated 'safe protest zone' on horseback. The G20 protests signal due alarm in Canada about the reach of an increasingly conservative and heavy handed state. Many Canadians are increasingly fearful of the Harper administration - we thought of left leaning American neighbours would echo our concern.
29
@28
Most are more interested in getting a good quip in than discussing issues surrounding the protest. Don't take it personally, happens in most posts.
Most are more interested in getting a good quip in than discussing issues surrounding the protest. Don't take it personally, happens in most posts.
30
@28
it's stupid to vandalize things and use violence when you have the right to vote and a right of free speech. go out and persuade people of the policies you want, and elect the people you want. if you act like criminals the vast majority of the people you're trying to persuade, won't be persuaded. here let me slap you in the face! there, that didn't persuade you, did it? see what i mean?
the whole notion that "elected leadersof nations shouldn't be talking to each other" or "we shouldn't have a world trade organization" and we should use these meetings to protest is flawed. elect the right people then the meeting will produce what you want. don't attack the process (the meeting); go win political power.
and get off my lawn, too.
it's stupid to vandalize things and use violence when you have the right to vote and a right of free speech. go out and persuade people of the policies you want, and elect the people you want. if you act like criminals the vast majority of the people you're trying to persuade, won't be persuaded. here let me slap you in the face! there, that didn't persuade you, did it? see what i mean?
the whole notion that "elected leadersof nations shouldn't be talking to each other" or "we shouldn't have a world trade organization" and we should use these meetings to protest is flawed. elect the right people then the meeting will produce what you want. don't attack the process (the meeting); go win political power.
and get off my lawn, too.
31
@28 While I agree that the Harper government is like Bush Lite, as @30 says, breaking windows and torching cars is no way to get your point across. Peaceful protest is the way to go. Imagine if the DADT protesters in Washington had thrown firebombs across the fence instead of quietly chaining themselves to it and giving interviews. Be thankful, at least, that we live in Canada, and that riot police chase people with horses rather than tanks, and use rubber bullets and tear gas rather than more *permanent* methods of constraint.
32
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34
At the G20, today, what is being discussed is how to take away what's left of our economic future. Ordinary Americans didn't see a pay raise in the last decade. Not only won't they see one this decade, they'll take a loss, and now even the European experiment in taking care of the population is on the chopping board.
The key thing here to understand is this: there is no crisis for the rich or corporations anymore, therefore as far as they are concerned, there is no crisis.
Dick Durbin once said, ""And the banks -- hard to believe in a time when we're facing a banking crisis that many of the banks created -- are still the most powerful lobby on Capitol Hill. And they frankly own the place."
It is facile to simply say, "go out and persuade people of the policies you want, and elect the people you want." Money owns this system, and the concerns of the rest of us simply is not heard, nor will it be, until there is massive unrest and instability. That is political reality. As noted by a previous comment, the tactics used at the WTO were successful. We won that week. That a few windows were smashed is unimportant. That was not part of the strategy or the tactics that won. Shutting down the city and the meetings was the goal, and that goal was accomplished, to a remarkable degree. It is interesting to compare, for example, the minimal property damage caused by protesters in Toronto to the massive environmental damage in the Gulf caused by the system they are protesting. There is no comparison.
This is our future being decided, and no, they don't think we have a say in it. Our voice is only heard on the streets. I applaud the protesters in Toronto for taking it to the streets.
The key thing here to understand is this: there is no crisis for the rich or corporations anymore, therefore as far as they are concerned, there is no crisis.
Dick Durbin once said, ""And the banks -- hard to believe in a time when we're facing a banking crisis that many of the banks created -- are still the most powerful lobby on Capitol Hill. And they frankly own the place."
It is facile to simply say, "go out and persuade people of the policies you want, and elect the people you want." Money owns this system, and the concerns of the rest of us simply is not heard, nor will it be, until there is massive unrest and instability. That is political reality. As noted by a previous comment, the tactics used at the WTO were successful. We won that week. That a few windows were smashed is unimportant. That was not part of the strategy or the tactics that won. Shutting down the city and the meetings was the goal, and that goal was accomplished, to a remarkable degree. It is interesting to compare, for example, the minimal property damage caused by protesters in Toronto to the massive environmental damage in the Gulf caused by the system they are protesting. There is no comparison.
This is our future being decided, and no, they don't think we have a say in it. Our voice is only heard on the streets. I applaud the protesters in Toronto for taking it to the streets.
35
Pol Pot -- The problem with the really violent protests (and Toronto wasn't as bad as some others in the past) is that the message of the protesters is lost.
I live in TO and honestly don't know what issues the protesters had with the G20. Was it the budget cuts promised, the maternal health care initiative, the general idea of governments meeting and making deals with other countries?
The funniest quote I saw was a protester yelling at a bystander "what are you looking at?" The whole point of protesting is to have regular people look at you and see your message.
I live in TO and honestly don't know what issues the protesters had with the G20. Was it the budget cuts promised, the maternal health care initiative, the general idea of governments meeting and making deals with other countries?
The funniest quote I saw was a protester yelling at a bystander "what are you looking at?" The whole point of protesting is to have regular people look at you and see your message.
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