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I live in Toronto, and I have to say that it's pretty scary the way that everyone's civil liberties have gotten suspended the second some big mucky-mucks roll i

I live in Toronto, and I have to say that it's pretty scary the way that everyone's civil liberties have gotten suspended the second some big mucky-mucks roll into town. The number of police officers standing around downtown has to be seen to be believed, and this is not the first arrest in the last few days on seemingly trumped up charges. My best wishes to Byron and his wife, hopefully this blows over without long-lasting consequences...

steveklabnik 16y ago
Yeah, man. When they rolled into Pittsburgh, it was really crazy. I had half of a nervous breakdown. The G20 coming to Pittsburgh did more to radicalize my politics than years of listening to punk music and wearing black clothing. EDIT: I actually posted a description of what it was like on Reddit, check it: http://www.reddit.com/r/Anarchism/comments/b21ws/what_should_we_rename/c0klofm http://www.reddit.com/r/Anarchism/comments/b21ws/what_should... And some photos taken by a friend of mine: http://seancolombo.com/g20/captioned/ http://seancolombo.com/g20/captioned/
- moxiemk1 16y ago
  For what its worth, the G20 coming to Pittsburgh and exploding like it did more to moderate my politics than anything I've ever seen. The police's actions were what police do when they're scared and charged with doing the impossible. It doesn't excuse them, but it certainly doesn't provide a case against any standing governments. The 'anarchists' actions were presented by them to be 'the right thing to do.' If deliberately getting the police to hurt people is a good thing, then I want no part in it.
  - steveklabnik 16y ago
    This isn't really the place to discuss politics, but feel free to email me if you'd like to talk about this further. :) All I'll say is that seeing my city under siege by a military force (because that's how the cops were dressed and acting) had a profound effect on my worldview. I certainly felt more empathy with the Iraqis after that day.
- aarongough 16y ago
  Personally I just think it's sad that these people are considered so important that they're allowed to inconvenience thousands of other people solely for their own safety/comfort. I think that if you're going to organize something like the G20 it should be held in a remote location. Easier to secure, less disruption for everyone else...
  - semanticist 16y ago
    They had the G8 (as was) meeting in a remote location (Gleneagles) in 2005. It just meant that all the protests, demonstrations, and marches were held in the nearest city (Edinburgh) instead. We had half the Met. (London's police force) up here acting like thugs. Meanwhile, some lunatics blew themselves up on the London Underground. These meetings are a farce. Anything that's going to be agreed at the meeting was in reality agreed beforehand. Why bother creating a target for protestors and a distraction that evil bastards can use? Never mind a remote location - why do it at all?
    - billswift 16y ago
      It isn't about "agreements" - it's about a bunch of politicians and courtiers demonstrating how powerful they are.
defrex 16y ago
I was walking around down there yesterday. Most street corners looks like this: http://twitpic.com/1zmuw8 http://twitpic.com/1zmuw8
omouse 16y ago
I saw 10 cops just standing around at Union station doing not much more than the regular pair of security guards do on any other day. It's really annoying that they're paying a hella lot more for all this security when the rest of the city needs some cash.

steveklabnik 16y ago

Yeah, man. When they rolled into Pittsburgh, it was really crazy. I had half of a nervous breakdown. The G20 coming to Pittsburgh did more to radicalize my politics than years of listening to punk music and wearing black clothing. EDIT: I actually posted a description of what it was like on Reddit, check it: http://www.reddit.com/r/Anarchism/comments/b21ws/what_should_we_rename/c0klofm http://www.reddit.com/r/Anarchism/comments/b21ws/what_should... And some photos taken by a friend of mine: http://seancolombo.com/g20/captioned/ http://seancolombo.com/g20/captioned/

moxiemk1 16y ago
For what its worth, the G20 coming to Pittsburgh and exploding like it did more to moderate my politics than anything I've ever seen. The police's actions were what police do when they're scared and charged with doing the impossible. It doesn't excuse them, but it certainly doesn't provide a case against any standing governments. The 'anarchists' actions were presented by them to be 'the right thing to do.' If deliberately getting the police to hurt people is a good thing, then I want no part in it.
- steveklabnik 16y ago
  This isn't really the place to discuss politics, but feel free to email me if you'd like to talk about this further. :) All I'll say is that seeing my city under siege by a military force (because that's how the cops were dressed and acting) had a profound effect on my worldview. I certainly felt more empathy with the Iraqis after that day.
aarongough 16y ago
Personally I just think it's sad that these people are considered so important that they're allowed to inconvenience thousands of other people solely for their own safety/comfort. I think that if you're going to organize something like the G20 it should be held in a remote location. Easier to secure, less disruption for everyone else...
- semanticist 16y ago
  They had the G8 (as was) meeting in a remote location (Gleneagles) in 2005. It just meant that all the protests, demonstrations, and marches were held in the nearest city (Edinburgh) instead. We had half the Met. (London's police force) up here acting like thugs. Meanwhile, some lunatics blew themselves up on the London Underground. These meetings are a farce. Anything that's going to be agreed at the meeting was in reality agreed beforehand. Why bother creating a target for protestors and a distraction that evil bastards can use? Never mind a remote location - why do it at all?
  - billswift 16y ago
    It isn't about "agreements" - it's about a bunch of politicians and courtiers demonstrating how powerful they are.

defrex 16y ago

I was walking around down there yesterday. Most street corners looks like this: http://twitpic.com/1zmuw8 http://twitpic.com/1zmuw8

omouse 16y ago

I saw 10 cops just standing around at Union station doing not much more than the regular pair of security guards do on any other day. It's really annoying that they're paying a hella lot more for all this security when the rest of the city needs some cash.