Violent protests at G20 Summit in Toronto leads police to arrest 500+ demonstrators

[Shortline Bus]

Violent protests at G20 Summit in Toronto leads police to arrest 500+ demonstrators

By Michael Sheridan

NY DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

 

Sunday, June 27th 2010

 

 

Demonstrators ignited four police cars and shattered shop windows with baseball bats and hammers along several city blocks on Saturday, according to reports. On Sunday, hundreds of protesters marched on the temperary detention center erected to house those arrested, sparking more clashes with police, who reportedly fired tear gas into the crowds.

 

A police spokeswoman confirmed to Reuters that officers fired what are known as muzzle blasts, or "individual applications of tear gas" that are used typically against individuals at close range.

 

On Saturday, a gang of black-clad mauraders, identified as the anarchist group Black Bloc in the Canadian press, broke ranks with peaceful protesters to wreak havoc in Toronto, while police relied on shields, clubs, tear gas and pepper spray to maintain order throughout the night.

 

The chaos was in response to the Group of 20 summit that is taking place in the Canadian city. President Obama and other world leaders are on hand to discuss global issues during the annual gathering.

 

Similar protests have occurred during the summit in years past, with thousands coming out to protest in favor of social and political causes. Violence is often seen, ranging in scope and size.

 

"What we saw yesterday is a bunch of thugs that pretend to have a difference of opinion with policies and instead choose violence to express those so-called differences of opinion," Prime Minister Stephen Harper's chief spokesman Dimitri Soudas said Sunday.

 

Toronto Police Sgt. Tim Burrows said Sunday that at least 412 people had been arrested in the rampage that began Saturday afternoon, according to The Associated Press. Those arrested were taken to a temporary holding center constructed for the summit.

 

The streets of downtown Toronto were quiet early Sunday morning, but police expect another massive protest at a park near the detention center to begin later in the day.

 

Burrows said many of the violent protesters were Canadian. He added that authorities had known of their plans for some time.

 

"We're not sure we have the leaders, but we have a large proportion of those people and the people who decided they wanted to be influenced by these violent protesters and join with their cause," Burrows said, AP reported. "A lot of them were home grown. There's a lot of Canadian talent in the group."

 

Thousands of police headed to Toronto to reinforce security there after the smaller Group of Eight summit ended Saturday in Ontario. Nearly 19,000 officers from across Canada have converged on Toronto to keep the peace.

 

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/2010/06/27/2010-06-27_violent_protests_at_g20_summit_in_torontos_leads_police_to_arrest_400_demonstrat.html#ixzz0s5HrVq58

[Joe]

Animals.

[INDman]

Animals.

 

What do you expect from liberal tree huggers?

[Shortline Bus]

What do you expect from liberal tree huggers?

 

not to get too off topic but I am for a second. It looks like MLB Baseball bosses made the right call in moving the Blue Jays/Phillies series from Canada. How a bad choice in relocating to Philadelphia IMO despite the sell outs.:tdown:.

[Joe]

What do you expect from liberal tree huggers?

 

Nothing but hypocrisy.

[INDman]

Nothing but hypocrisy.

 

"It's only wrong when you do it." or "Do as we say, not as we do."

[Joe]

"It's only wrong when you do it." or "Do as we say, not as we do."

 

Ah, the mottos of the Democrats.

 

On a related note, nice avatar from The Wall.

[INDman]

Ah, the mottos of the Democrats.

 

On a related note, nice avatar from The Wall.

 

Thanks, I got tired of the face from the same movie.

[Bx41 Wakefield]

Good thing they moved the Blue Jays game to Philly.