Anti-G20
protesters take to the streets and the peaceful protesters are
overshadowed by violent rioters as downtown Toronto descends into
chaos.
Friday,
June 25
Police block Yonge Street as
the protesters move from Alan Gardens to the downtown.
The protesters arrive. About
2000 of them.
Mostly peaceful demonstrators.
Some of the protesters hide
their identities.
Bicycle cops use their bikes
to block the sidewalks.
Riot cops waiting in an alley
near Yonge Street, just in case.
The crowd gathers as a scuffle
occurs. Police arrest a deaf protester.
The police separate the marchers
from the gawking crowd.
Protesters shouting to the police
forces, upset about the arrest.
"Black Bloc" tactics.
By dressing all in black and huddling together, it makes it harder
for the police to distinguish individuals.
The bike Police reposition as
the march continues west.
Full riot gear deployed.
There were at least as many
police as there were protesters.
More disguised protesters.
One protester is prepared for
any tear gas that might be used.
The march turns south down University
Avenue.
Many different protest groups
were on hand.
As the protest spills into active
lanes of traffic, the police swiftly jump the barrier.
A scuffle between police &
an angry protester.
Standoff at University &
Elm Street. The Police block the crowd from getting near the
G20 barricades.
The mounted unit on the scene.
A panorama of the blockade at
Elm Street.
The cops would hit their batons
on their shields in an intimidating manner.
Up close to the riot shields.
A self portrait with riot police
in the background.
On activist "moons"
the police in an act of defiance.
Saturday,
June 26
Despite the rain, the police
and protesters are out i force. Many times more than the previous
day.
The large group gathers at Queen's
Park.
One crazy dude climbing on top
of a statue on University Ave. He fell backwards but seemed to
be OK.
Most of the protesters were
very peaceful, just trying to have their issues acknowledged.
Bicycle police on the front
line with the riot squad in the back.
A protester opposing what he
called the "Police State"
Police in riot gear guard a
back alley off of Queen Street.
A symbol of "Fortress Toronto"
The C.N. Tower with riot police.
Helmets, shields and batons
at the ready. The peaceful protesters have all left, leaving
the troublemakers behind.
Now the tear gas launchers and
gas masks come out.
The police, ready for just about
anything as the crowds start to heat up and get angrier.
Police blocked in on both sides
by protesters.
The standoff continues after
rioters smash windows on the police car.
Protesters conduct a sit in,
in front of the smashed police car and riot cops.
Gas masks at the ready. Very
intimidating.
When reinforcements arrived,
the police backed off, leaving 2 cruisers behind. They were vandalized
and eventually set on fire by rioters.
This guys climbed up the Steve's
Music sign and swung from the wires. He eventually dropped, seemingly
unharmed.
One of many smashed windows
in the wake of the rioting crowd.
The protesters split up into
several groups, attempting to lure the police away from the G20
fence. Here, a large group gathers on Bay Street in the financial
district.
A row of police in riot gear
in front of Old City Hall.
The "Everything is O.K."
guy, posing in front of the police line.
Moving south towards the larger
crowd.
An RCMP command vehicle creeps
south on Bay Street. This would be great for storm chasing! I
want one.
Tear gas was used on the crown
on Queen Street for the first time in Toronto's history.
Protesters peel up chunks of
grass sod from a park and spell out "No G20" in the
middle of King Street.
Panorama of an advancing Police
line. They were very effective at breaking up the crowd into
smaller, more manageable groups.
The police used horses, bicycles,
cars and even ATV's to patrol the downtown.
Police forcing all the protesters
out of Queen's Park. Anyone who didn't move out was arrested.
Panorama of the police clearing
out Queen's Park.
These guys meant business. At
times they would rush the crowd, hitting their shields and shouting,
forcing us to run to keep out of their way. Scary stuff.
