Seven protesters were arrested and will likely be charged with assault and possession of a dangerous weapon after 200 anti-Olympic demonstrators marched through downtown Vancouver Saturday, smashing plate glass windows and overturning newspaper boxes.
Police say they recovered a bag with a hammer. One protester had a bicycle chain wrapped around his fist when he was arrested, police also say.
A criminal element mingled with the legitimate anti-Olympic protestors. "The criminal element apparently willing to wield anything that might cause damage or injury marched among about 200 legitimate protestors," police said in a statement released about an hour after police broke up their march.
"This group contained more than 100 masked people many of whom kicked and damage numerous parked cars. They used spray paint on cars and transit buses and tore down signs. They also clashed with members of the public and pedestrians who didn't support them," police said.
"The demonstration involved a number of anarchists, some of whom dress all in black and employ a tactic, called Black Bloc. This included a loosely organized group of thugs from central Canada known to attach themselves to any cause, travel to any event that attracts media coverage and promote anarchy wherever they go.
"Vancouver police respect the rights of those who wish to express their criticism but that does not give them right to commit crimes and jeopardize the public's safety," police say.
Representatives of the International Olympic Committee and Vancouver organizers jointly told a news conference they support protest as long as it is not violent.
"Where we draw the line and where I suspect Canadians draw the line is when people get violent," Mark Adams of the IOC told a daily briefing.
"The demonstrations I would characterize as being minor and dealt with properly," Mr. Adams told the briefing.
Renee Smith-Valaade of VANOC said organizers had confidence in current security plans.
Of the response to date, she said: "It has been swift and decisive and done in a way to respect those who would like to protest in a peaceful way."
The pro-Insite protest was fine. However, the tactic of CHAINING the doors to the building shut with over 100 children and people inside, was not.
The police quickly cut the chain and dispersed the crowd, as they should have.
Stephen Harper still managed to show up later, something that they forget to mention
Such a beautiful rainy day today. Gonna stay away from the VAG, the sludge being washed off the protesters will be enough to make you gag.
I'd be concerned about a fire code violation if that building only had one entrance/exit.
I've always thought that buildings are built to have at minimum two fire escape routes, with proper emergency exit signage.
These anarchists are despicable. I didn't realize how emotional I'd find it I'd until I saw of a video of them smashing up my city. Sigh...
Anyways, here are some of my photos from yesterday of some of the more mild-mannered protesters. How long do you suppose it took someone to make the green-cash-grab guy?
Last edited by Locked In; Feb 14, 2010 at 8:17 AM.
The Lions Gate Bridge was shutdown, W. Georgia Street was shut down, vandalism - not a lot of happy campers out there.
I'd personally drag these anarchos and throw each of them into Lost Lagoon and give 'em a good drenching. Better yet, drive by 'em in an fire truck with a pressurized water hose and give them a good soaking.
Once they are cold and soaking wet, they will disperse quickly .
I think it was in Germany a few years ago that the police used the water hoses on some protesters, but they mixed the water with liquid manure.
very effective.
Somebody needs to print some of those red shirts with titty observer or something in the same type face and go hang out with the anarchists. Somebody also needs to protest with this sign,
bluehampshire.com
__________________
Public Administration 101: Keep your mouth shut until obligated otherwise and don't get in public debates with housewives.
Because it was a peacefl protest at first and then the moron anarchists took over. Without any protest (until after the fact) from the anti-Olympics people
Like they'd obey that. Don't forget that courts are out of session until after the Olympics.
There has to be cause to remand in custody - which tends to be the exception not the rule. Court is still in session - may be trials aren't sitting but first appearances and bail hearings will take place. Besides hearings can be held at a police station using a JP.
i thought they were going to have special courts to hurry through things? like they said if a tourist has to be dealt with they will get sped through the legal system so they can get id dealt with here - for minor infractions anyway
So what do the local anti-Olympic protest leaders have to say about this? Unlike some folks giving the local groups the benefit of the doubt, I hold the local protest leaders just as responsible, even if the individuals trying to vandalize our city are from somewhere else.
Why? Well, they invited them. They bragged about their push to bring in protest groups from the states and other parts of Canada. Remember the public boasting that they had dozens of people working the internet to get groups to Vancouver? I do.
I also remember the vague "we're peaceful but if some folks get out of hand, oh well" attitude they displayed in interviews the last couple of weeks . . . including in response to questions about the "blanket invite" strategy.
Well, their "friends" made it to town. And juvenile though they may be (and look, giving those videos), they want to damage our city.
I once had a a very open mind about the local protest groups. But it's closing rapidly . . . very rapidly. Their advocacy of bringing any clown into town willing to come and their unwillingness to condemn their actions speak volumes. Credibility is zero.
It's times like these I wish to be a riot police officer just so I can club their heads with my baton.
Why do you have to be to do that? Start a Facebook group and you could probably get a couple thousand people out to circle and surround these professional protesters, there's less than a couple hundred.
this is a comment form a youtube video uploaded by the ORN... wtf? i can't believe people think this way
Quote:
Get a job?
what is a job?
nothing but a permission slip to do work!
What entitles elites to be taskmasters and middlemen so they can parasitically leech off of others labor?
Why are some given the entitlement to decide who will eat and who will be eaten?
And why would one want to get a job, be a wage slave, submit to a master and their demands?
Why not desire to be free?
Free from bosses.
Free to decide what to do each day.
Free to be a master of your own time?
Have you no self-respect?
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