msn reports yahoo toroto globe katu (local tv station) katu report but anyway, i was at the protest, it was absolutely CRAZY. at least a thousand protesters waving signs, chanting "drop bush, not bombs". there was a drum corps and quite a few other musicians, babies in strollers and "veterans against bush". barricades were set and a state of emergency was declared by the mayor. riot cops and protestors faced off for around 45 minutes, tense but unyielding. bottles of bubbles were passed around in one small group near the front of the protest and riot cops laughed a little over that. towards the back, bicyclists were blocking traffic, more protesters from the siskyous joined up with a banner denouncing bush's tree-thinning plan, two people had a clever way to spread the message: pinata-style "bushwhacking". a bush was tied at the end of a rope attached to a long stick which was swung around others weilded duct-tape machetes. more later. |
glad to hear it! |
did protesters throwing rocks and bottles? those cops from the yahoo pics look like fucking Storm Troopers. Im failing to see why there was a need to pepper spray and shoot people with ribber bullets. There is such thing as freedom of assembly. |
it was actually security guards at a parking garage that began the pepper spraying. it was where the cars of the people going to the $1000-a-head presidential "reelect gordon smith" speech were. it was scary after awhile. people lost their friends, little kids crying, one three-year-old in a stroller got peppersprayed. i went back to the east side to watch the news and watched a close friend of mine get sprayed on tv. a tv camera and cameraman got sprayed as well. the air reeked of pepper and cider vinegar. people were beginning to panic and my friends that i was with and i sat on our bikes, bikes facing away, us facing the protest to watch. it was a little scary. |
hmmm. in my experience, the police only freak out when provoked....even by the slightest thing, such as a water bottle being thrown. you can't win against the police, so be smart out there....don't go throwing shit and give anyone crap for bringing their toddler to such a volatile event. |
That's awesome that you were at that event Pez. I wish there was a lot more anti-Bush protests. Maybe this will get the ball rolling. |
white face with red lips and curlicues. but maybe i'll dress up as the uniclowner another time. |
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