G20 Protest, Toronto, 27/6/2010 - Unfair Detainment at Queen & Spadina

After following a peaceful crowd of protesters to Queen & Spadina, the police closed in on four sides, blocking us into a small area without provocation and without warning. We were given no chance to escape. The police say they were looking for Black Bloc protesters, but it was immediately clear that the vast majority of the 300 or so who were detained were simply curious onlookers. We were kept in the freezing rain for hours while the police decided what to do. After roughly half of the crowd was removed and processed for detention, many of those volunteering themselves to escape the rain, the rest were set free unconditionally. I was one of the lucky ones.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• toronto
• G20
• G8
• protest
• detainment
• Queen
• Spadina
• Street
• police
• riot

[ihaveacomputer]

It's disturbing to read how many comments here dismiss the crowd as being full of hippies who deserve what happened to them.

1) Most of those in the crowd were innocent onlookers caught as the police quickly moved in. No warning was given. The crowd was peaceful. No "black bloc".

2) I invite all of you to stand in the cold rain for 180 minutes the next time Toronto has a flash flood warning. Remember, no food or bathroom breaks allowed! You can drink the pouring rain if you get thirsty, though.

[bullhunda]

Were many more then 300 there, close to 1500 that were trapped by police

[ihaveacomputer]

@bullhunda Seriously? Are there any numbers available as to how many people were actually processed from that group?

[ebagork]

I was there, it sucked

it was raining facism

then they let us go

yeah, I only communicate in haiku form

[georgygirl53]

@ihaveacomputer My son was one of them and I totally agree with you

[hyperpunjabi]

@ihaveacomputer just a question do you know akaamazing and jus reign

[G20covertOP]

@ihaveacomputer I would say maybe 400 to 500. I filmed it too, check it out.

[SkateCanada11]

Fuck the police Martial Law is coming everyone!!!!!!! get the hell out of Amarica! there is no Canada anymore!!!!!

[WisdomThumbs]

Where is the outraged coverage of G20 in the American Media? All I can find is coverage of the BP Oil Spill.

Speaking as an American (your stereotypical redneck American at that) let me just say that I'm mad as all hell at how things in Toronto turned out. "Hippies getting what they deserve" is BS. If anything, those "hippies" have earned my respect with their responses to the situation. I hope the people responsible for this get what they deserve.

[phillydisco]

@keklolgloat They may not have been actual cops doing the window busting, but they may have known they'd be given a wide berth from the police. If you look at the footage, the cops pretty much pretended to look shocked and surprised. They left the cars there even though they had plenty of time to move them. The whole car burning was a set up so they could really unleash on Sunday. The only blessing was that they didn't use the sound cannon. But it was pointed at the lawful civilians.

[phillydisco]

@ArcherJoeJoe That'll be next time. If people just forget about this and move on, like Blair insisted people do, then next time they'll unload tear gas, and other nasty toys. Once they get the taste of blood...

[phillydisco]

@manwello15 All of the people running this from Miller and Blair up should be held accountable. McGuinty right now is really sneaking around like a snake, with his new 'eco tax' he implemented quietly. Bad enough we pay extra income taxes under the guise of a health premium so his buddies in e-Health can throw extravagant Xmas parties.

Cops became thugs during this G20. I wonder how many can look at themselves in the mirror. Notice not too many low ranking cops are talking about that day.