Is it a Movie, or Is it Toronto? 5 Insane Videos From the G20 Summit
Remember that scene in Children of Men where Clive Owen watches from the treeline as Michael Caine's character jokes with the gunman to pull his finger? And then the shooter blows his hand clean off? Yeah, Toronto -- you know which one I'm talking about, especially today as the city surveys the dystopian damage from the ongoing G20 Summit. Not surprisingly, it makes for riveting, ghastly online viewing as the user-generated videos mount; this is a location shoot no one would want a part of.
Take this insane showdown on Queen and Spadina streets. "This is from a movie, right, not from someone's window, right?" asked Ray Pride at Movie City Indie. "G20, it's something Belgian, right? Science fiction?" If only. Staggering.
Here are some folks attempting to reason with each other, if you can call shouting while vandals, anarchists and police come to blows around you "reasoning."
Here's a first-person glimpse of what it's like having Toronto's riot crew descend on you. A striking one-shot survey of the aftermath follows, complete with camera-strap obstruction -- which is a lot more unnerving than it sounds.
Here's another one-shot wonder of protesters just having a sit in Queen's Park until a wall of cops descends with bikes, batons and pepper spray. If there's anything that might be most compatible with an Alfonso Cuaron film, it's this.
And this is most compatible with a certain Stuart Townsend film you may have seen, but it's cinematic and shocking nonetheless. [via The Lost Boy]
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Comments
Bunch of idiots. Hope they all go to jail and never get let out.
Totally agree! You mean the police right? For assault and battery and general abuse of power because this is the first and only time in their lives that they've felt important? Completely agree.
Such a corporate, deliberately cruel world, produces angry outbursts, that helps cement MORE RIGHTEOUS NOW! societal controls. The hope is, the experience of showing mass outrage, absolute intolerance for, the G20, helps unite the vast numbers who hate our current corporate society to execute a very effective, balking, counter voice / will.
Idiot. Get a fucking job.
Hey Patrick, did you send that on a coconut shell laptop built by naitives in the Amazonian rain forrest?
I'm guessing that's frustration directed at yourself for sitting there and then realizing you really don't have the ability to put together an articulate though. I bet Blockbusters are still hiring while they're around. Sounds perfect for you! Shoot for the idiot stars!
Hey Martini, I'm surprised you capitalized "Amazonian" considering your spelling of "naitives" and "forrest" suggests borderline illiteracy.
Why would anyone in thier right mind want to go to Toronto during the G20? My opinion, but isnt being there while all the anarchy is taking place kind of like inviting the police to hit you with whatever they might be wielding? I'm no schollar or scientist or anything, but I was smart enough to stay the hell away from Toronto because I do not like having my skull smashed with billy clubs. People in the videos probably should have done the same. No Pitty Here
I outsource my spelling to oppressed workers in third-world countries so I can pocket more profits.
Watched the protests live on Canadian television - fascinating. Even more fascinating: the $900 million price tag for G20 security. Works out to something like $1 million per protester!
Wow, that is like totally amazing dude. I mean seriously.
Lou
http://www.real-anonymity.se.tc
I think these black bloc folks are just glass installers in disguise.
greeg..you are embarrassing yourself, your parents and your shchool system. Do everyone a favor and never communicate with human beigns again. A bunch of asshoels went out looking for trouble, and lo and behold, they found it. Nothing to see here.
You have to look at it like the game it is.
Saturday the people won.
Sunday the cops said 'fuck it' and kicked major ass.
Game over.
First, for those complaining about our "corporate world": how did you post your message? How were these videos recorded and then shared with thousands? Through the devices that the corporate world system created. Without the corporate capitalistic system we would not have the technological wonders that we have today.
Secondly: what alternative do you propose to the western way of life? Other social and economic systems have been tried and they have all failed. Capitalism and corporate economies mixed with democracy and a fair safety net for citizens seems to work best. Perhaps there is a better system out there but I doubt that it will be discovered and developed by those who will immediately destroy property that is not theirs, that will throw stones at the police, that will destroy the property of our nation, and that delight in calling for the destruction of our way of life.
Most of the looting and rioting took place Saturday when the cops were relatively relaxed and peaceful, after they saw what happened they decided to be aggressive on Sunday. I don't know how many of you are from Toronto but I am, and 95% of the people who live here were completely against the protesters and supported the police. It's ok to protest, but when you start burning cop cars, smashing businesses, looting, and also damaging civilian vehicles in our home city then the cops will definitely come and get you.
I'm placing the blame squarely on Starbucks.
Cops should have shot a few of the worst ones to make a point. What a disgrace that a bunch of no-job, no-money, no-life couch surfing losers get the media attention that they do. Just completely sickening.
it's all real.there are mounting calls for inquires from the Canadian civil liberties union, they sent monitors who were arrested by the cops, from amnesty international, and from Canadian newspapers. it was the largest mass arrest in Canadian history. people, including journalists, were verbally abused and beaten. government press passes were no protection for the press. there's even talk of riot cops threatening women with gang rape.
four journalists have gone to the independent police panel to file formal complaints.
Canadian civil liberties association
">http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2010/06/29/g20-oiprd-reporters-complaint.html">
CBC Canada 4 reporters make a complaint to police oversight committee
the detention center was the old Toronto studios, btw
blogTO inside the G20 detention center
Toronto Star - I will not forget what they have done to me
Toronto Star - Calls for G20 inquiry ratchet up
Buddyhead the Battle of Toronto
Gezzz! I have a solution to the whole problem, why do these co called leader just have an F---ing Web Meeting. We the people do not need spectacle of the leaders of the free world getting together to figure ways to "Help Us", and the same goes foe the people on the street.
Leaders meet on the web, and no one get hit, hurt, or arrested and we save 900 mil.
Gezzzz! someone make all these people go away!
BB
That is pretty much how I see the videos. Not that I agree with the aggressive tactics but when you start smashing buildings and destroying private/public property you need to be stopped.
there were 900 hundred arrests, there weren't 900 black bloc people. most of the people were just regular canadians who had the right to go outside. they also beat up journalists, surely they didn't break any windows.
What about... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOjGdvju-po ??
I love that Lakawak brought up school systems, education and embarrassment when he managed to misspell a four-letter name directly in front of him and the word "school." Don't get me wrong; there's plenty of blame to go around with what's going on in Toronto and both sides of the coin are acting like jackasses. I just find it hilarious to see stooges try so hard for the low hanging fruit and fail so miserably.
Lakawak...
This forum has spell check...
have a lovely day.
I love that Lakawak brought up school systems, education and embarrassment when he managed to misspell a four-letter name directly in front of him and the word "school." Don't get me wrong; there's plenty of blame to go around with what's going on in Toronto and both sides of the coin are acting like jackasses. I just find it hilarious to see stooges try so hard for the low hanging fruit and fail so miserably.
Lakawak...
This forum has spell check...
have a lovely day.
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