Mass Arrests at G8/G20 Protests in Toronto
Today at least 150 people have been arrested at G8/G20 protests currrently being held in Toronto, Canada. Up to 10 000 people, a collection of activists, community groups, NGO's and unions, marched around the security fence that had been erected around the summit. Many who oppose the G8 are fighting austerity economic measures now being implemented around the world in wake the recent financial crisis. These policies are said to disproportionally hurt the poor, destroying social safety nets while at the same time benefiting business and the rich who had caused the economic crisis to begin with.
By looking at the Canadian media, it would seem that protest violence in Toronto has lead the city to be in a state of panic. Public transport is shut down, the summit area is in lock down along with businesses and some hospitals. However, this violence is indicative of excessive security measures and police heavy handedness.
As is the case with many G8 summits, a concrete and metal fence completely surrounded the summit. If this were not enough, laws stripping fundamental rights were implemented without public consultation. Anyone caught near the security fence can be identified and detained at police discretion. The mainstream press is characterizing violence as a result of "thugs" or "Black Bloc" elements that broke away from the protest. It should be considered the historical role Canadian police have played in large summit protests, being caught on multiple occassions using undercovers to incite violence. It is also being suggested that police cars being burned today were older, broke down and purposely put in places where vandalism is likely. 
The arrival of the G8 and G20 to Southern Ontario has lead to significant controversy. Security measures for these summits have cost upwards of 1 billion (1.3 nz) dollars. This comes at a time when the national conservative government preaches fiscal responsibility and austerity measures for the poor.
Communities in the area have been greatly effected by the Summit presence; OCAP (Ontario Coalition Against Poverty) states "The police have begun to clear the streets leading in to the Summit with people in the neighborhood experiencing a drastic increase in police presence and harassment. Police have removed benches and garbage cans from parks, people are reporting that they have even been arbitrarily denied access to public parks."
The night before the Summit saw a series of raids on homes of activists involved in the organising leading up to G20/G8. 23 people have been arrested, from groups such as No One is Illegal and Southern Ontario Anarchist Alliance.
Rabble | Toronto Media Coop | OCAP | No One is Illegal | CBC
Comments
The protesters chant, "the
The protesters chant, "the world is watching, the world is watching." It is, and look what you've done. Burn cars and destroy buildings. How is anyone going to take the protest movement seriously after this?
not this argument please
I am Leon, I'd prefer if the discourse surrounding this article not get into the endless debate on the justification of violence in protest. It distracts people from what the issues are surrounding the G20/G8; Austerity measures, repression, surveillance and capitalism in crisis. It was actually the point i was trying to get across in the article, though i should have been clearer.
There are plenty of other forums to debate this particular issue.
But isn't it the violence
But isn't it the violence that "distracts people from what the issues are surrounding the G20/G8; Austerity measures, repression, surveillance and capitalism in crisis"?
Look at the most successful protest movements in history: the American civil rights movement and the Indian independence movement. Both changed the most powerful political institutions in the world at the time (USA and the British Empire, respectively) through the use of non-violent protest. So, the question of violence in the protest movement is the most important question we should consider.
Both also used so-called
Both also used so-called violent protest measures at times so your point is moot. Why are these the most successful movements? What about the Anti-Aparthied Movement Chinese or Russian Revolutions or is that ignored because they used violence?
But yeah this is off topic so I'm not going to but any more time into this thread
yep
Yep, those are good examples I am Leon, I agree. Non-violence action was one strategy employed and contributed greatly to change. Of course there are many strategies, and no recipe for change in all situations (in my opinion). If it helps, think Palestine, Burma, Chechnya, Colombia.
If you're open to it, Derrick Jensen has a pretty interesting look at pacifism and violence. He's a bit out there but can be interesting.
http://zinelibrary.info/derrick-jensen-pacifism-and-violence
I haven't read much of
I haven't read much of Jensen, but he seems to be following a long line of writers in attacking pacifism by completely misrepresenting it. eg.
"The state has for millennia been trying to convince us it owns a monopoly on violence, and abusers have been trying to convince us for far longer than that. Pacifists are more than willing to grant them that, and to shout down anyone who disagrees."
Now obviously somebody who sticks up for the state to use violence is not a pacifist - by definition. Yet Jensen and others tell us these people are 'pacifists' and therefore pacifism is wrong.
The people he is criticising are not pacifists - they are the muddled social democrats who regard state violence as legitimate and other violence as illegitimate.
Cheers
Sam Buchanan
Violence and non-violence
In this instance I would agree that the violence used seems rather counter-productive. Anyway it was only committed by a small group or possible a few small groups of hooded people in black.
As far as I know only 2 police cars were damaged and at least one of them went up in flames. Some windows of shops were smashed. The media loves to focus on such scenes and hence blows the true events totally out of proportion.
Although I generally believe in non-violent protest and resitance, there definitely are situations in at least some oppressive countries where it appears fruitless to try only non-violent resistance and dissent.
Where people get tortured, murdered, beaten up and locked up for simply taking a stand and express political dissent, it would seen to be very naive that the ruling regime would be effectively fought and removed by non-violent actions only.
If violence is applied then it should be done in a strategic fashion by sabotaging infrastructure, perhaps damaging property of abusive, violent police and state agencies. Naturally there is always a right of self-defence. What is the point of letting police, soldiers or state security bash a person up and simply stand by and not take any action?
So there are many things to consider.
Taking action to remove blockades, illegitimate borders, instruments of oppression and force should always be justified anyway.
In Toronto the violence brought to the attention of the world public that there was also a large peaceful protest beforehand. Had there not been any violence, it may not have had much mention in the reporting of media.
That may for some be reason enough to take such actions. I personally have difficulty sharing that view though.
Press Statement - Toronto Community Mobilization Network
For several months, communities across Toronto have been coming together to resist the imposition of austerity measures advanced at the G8/G20 summits. The Harper government spends 1.2 billion taxpayer dollars to host the G8/G20 summits while it cuts social spending in ways that have drastic impacts people in the Toronto area and other parts of Canada.
Since these communities have come together, the police have been using intimidation tactics to repress and silence people in the Toronto community. Police and intelligence officers went to community organizers' homes and harrassed them in the streets. Now they have arrested many of these people, many of them young organizers of color, and charged them with conspiracy.
These people hold the Harper government to account and they speak out against policies that are making ordinary people poorer, sicker and more desperate. As a result, they have been intimidated, harassed, and imprisoned. They are political prisoners in this country, where the police repression shows that its claims of democracy are simply window dressing.
While police continue to intimidate people, individuals and community members keep going out in the streets to show that they are not afraid and stand with political prisoners as well as oppressed peoples – first nations communities, immigrants and refugees, poor people, people of color, women, trans people, people with disabilities and queer communities.
The police intimidation and repression added to the anger and frustration people have with the G8/G20 policies and leaders that destroy their lives and the lives of people around the world. This is why people targeted banks and multinational corporations, and the property of police.
Ultimately, 1 billion dollars were spent on beating people who were demonstrating throughout the week, on intimidating community members in the streets, on arresting organizers of color and indigenous solidarity organizers, on sending demonstrators to hospital with broken bones, and on using tear gas on those in the so-called designated “free speech” zone. 1 billion dollars has not been used to protect people and to keep the city safe. Instead it has been used to repress the people who are working to make this city, and planet a fairer, more just, and more humane place.
Toronto Community Mobilization Network
What a surprise, anarchists
What a surprise, anarchists acting like violent animals and destroying the rights of real activists to protest against something meaningful.