Report: Toronto police rough up journalists, arrest peaceful protesters at G20

[IndianaGreen]

Source: Common Dreams

Report: Toronto police rough up journalists, arrest peaceful protesters at G20

By Daniel Tencer
Sunday, June 27th, 2010 -- 1:29 am

Reporters covering the G20 summit in Toronto say they were the target of police violence overnight, as riots blamed on anarchist groups left four police cars burning in the financial district and resulted in the arrests of some 150 people.

"A newspaper photographer was shot with a plastic bullet in the backside, while another had an officer point a gun in his face despite identifying himself as a member of the media," reported the Canadian Press news agency. The agency did not say if it was its own reporters who were targeted.

Previously: Toronto gets ‘secret' arrest powers ahead of G20 protests

In a remarkable series of Tweets early Sunday morning, journalist Steve Paikin of public broadcaster TV Ontario said he witnessed "police brutality" against a reporter and the arrests of peaceful demonstrators.

"I saw police brutality tonight. It was unnecessary. They asked me to leave the site or they would arrest me. I told them I was doing my job," he Tweeted.


Read more: http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2010/06/27

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The MSM will tell you what the financial interests behind the G20 want you to know.

[davidinalameda]

1. guess the arrest powers can't be too secret if the media knows about them

:shrug:

[IndianaGreen]

3. Police has used agents provocateurs in the past.

Many Canadians have become suspicious of police tactics since the Quebec police force admitted that it had disguised three of its own officers as rock-wielding anarchists in an attempt to provoke violence at a peaceful protest in the town of Montebello two years ago. Somewhat farcically, the three were exposed as agents provocateurs when they were found to be wearing official issue police boots identical to those of the uniformed officers "arresting" them.

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2010/06/27-1

[davidinalameda]

4. and there have been plenty of thugs destroying private property all on their own

[MisterP]

9. and of course, mere accusations of provocateurs present can also be used to tar anyone

"too angry"

[SunnySong]

2. To paraphrase Chris Rock..

You set fire to a mans ride be prepared for an ass whooping...


I wouldn't be out on the street today.

[costahawk1987]

5. Agent provacateurs?

We've got to start playing dirty, too! Or whatever Naomi Klein says. She's infinitely smarter than I'll ever be.

[HooptieWagon]

6. Fake police to arrest the fake protestors?

Sounds like it could get confusing.

[Xenotime]

7. There is such anger out there it's so sad.

[riverbendviewgal]

8. As a Canadian

I am watching the protests.
My home is in the north now but I did live in Toronto most of my adult life.

I believe in the right to protest and free speech. What I watched yesterday was a very peaceful large protest march that got taken over by people in disguise to commit acts of violence.

These people need to be identified and charges and pay the penalty in fines and jail time.

There was one person who spoke to a TV reporter who said he wasn't there to protest but there because he hated the police.

The G20 is viewed by most Canadians, including cops, as terrible waste of money.

I hope next time they have it on a cruise ship in the middle of the ocean or in the Arctic or Antarctica.