Thousands protest summit in Canada; some smash windows, scuffle with police
By Rob Gillies, APSaturday, June 26, 2010
Vandals mar summit protests in Toronto
TORONTO — Black-clad demonstrators broke off from a crowd of peaceful protesters at the global economic summit in Toronto Saturday, torching police cruisers and smashing windows with baseball bats and hammers. Police arrested more than 150 people.
Police used shields, clubs, tear gas and pepper spray to push back the rogue protesters who tried to head south toward the security fence surrounding the perimeter of the Group of 20 summit site. Some demonstrators hurled bottles at police.
“We have never seen that level of wanton criminality and vandalism and destruction on our streets,” Toronto police chief Bill Blair said.
Previous major world summits have attracted massive, raucous and sometimes destructive protests by anti-globalization forces. But so far the Canadian demonstrations have been smaller, with rain apparently discouraging some protesters.
Protesters torched at least three police cruisers in different parts of the city, including one in the heart of the city’s financial district. One protester jumped on the roof of one before dropping a Molotov cocktail into the smashed windshield.
The roving band of protesters in black balaclavas broke shop windows for blocks with baseball bats and hammers. They also broke windows at police headquarters.
Police spokeswoman Jillian Van Acker said officers employed tear gas a short distance from there.
“Free speech is a principle of our democracy. But the thugs that prompted violence earlier today represent in no way shape or form the Canadian way of life,” said Dimitri Soudas, the chief spokesman for Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
A media bus taking photographers and cameramen to a hotel where the G-20 leaders will have dinner was turned back after police deemed it unsafe.
Dozens of police officers later boxed in a number of protesters from both sides of a street in a shopping district. The protesters encouraged the media to film it and they sang ‘O Canada’, Canada’s national anthem, before being allowed to disperse.
At another location at the provincial legislature police also boxed in demonstrators before tackling some and making arrests.
A stream of police cars headed to Toronto to reinforce security there after the smaller Group of Eight summit ended in Huntsville, Ontario. The vandalism occurred just blocks from where President Barack Obama and other world leaders were meeting and staying.
“These images are truly shocking to Canadians,” Canadian Public Safety Minister Vic Toews said in a statement. “We are taking all measures necessary to ensure Canadians, delegates, media and international visitors remain safe.”
Toronto Police with shields and clubs earlier pushed back a small group of protesters who tried to head south toward the security fence around the site of the G-20 summit. Some demonstrators hurled bottles at police.
Tons of police cars headed to Toronto to reinforce security there after the smaller Group of Eight summit ended in Huntsville, Ontario. The vandalism in Toronto’s downtown core occurred just blocks from where President Barack Obama and other world leaders are meeting and staying.
Toronto Police Sgt. Tim Burrows said before Saturday’s protest that authorities were quite pleased that the protests have been tame so far compared to what they’ve seen at previous summits. Hundreds of protesters moved through Toronto’s streets Friday, but police in riot gear blocked them from getting near the summit security zone downtown.
As of Saturday afternoon, 40 summit-related arrests had been since June 18, police said, with security being provided by an estimated 19,000 law enforcement officers drawn from all regions of Canada. The security costs are estimated at more than US$900 million.
“From what we’ve seen in previous summits we’re quite happy with what our protesters are bringing to the table with the exception of a few,” Burrows said before the vandalism.
Toronto’s downtown resembles a fortress, with a big steel and concrete fence protecting the summit site.
On Friday, hundreds of protesters moved through Toronto’s streets, but police in riot gear intercepted them, preventing them from getting near the summit security zone downtown.
Previous global summit protests have turned violent. In 1999, 50,000 protesters shut down World Trade Organization sessions in Seattle as police fired tear gas and rubber bullets. There were some 600 arrests and $3 million in property damage. One man died after clashes with police at a G-20 meeting held in London in April 2009.
At the September G-20 summit in Pittsburgh, police fired canisters of pepper spray and smoke and rubber bullets at marchers.
____
Associated Press Writers Ian Harrison and Charmaine Noronha contributed to this report.
Tags: Arrests, Barack Obama, Canada, North America, Ontario, Protests And Demonstrations, Summits, Toronto, Vandalism
