So here I was sitting in the newly opened convergence space hosted by the Toronto Community Mobilization Network at 1266 Queen Street West (Toronto) and we're all drinking tap water and listening to some great tunes and I'm thinking: yup, look at us scary anarchists doing scary things like spoken word performances, serving food to each other and napping quietly in the corner.
Yes, polite society should be very afraid! Here come the Berserkers tearing young saplings from the ground and whipping them at the police (see below).
In fact, we are so scary that the United States has issued a travel advisory for next weekend stating, "even demonstrations that are meant to be peaceful can become violent and unpredictable. You should avoid them if at all possible."
I mean, according to the police - who of course will all be wearing their kid gloves during the demonstrations and cannot be blamed if police riots break out; hmmmm....I mean, wait a minute.... aren't they called POLICE riots and not PEOPLE riots for a reason?
Anyway, I digress...enough with the big thoughts! (Please see video embedded at botton of post or click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7RUeMCZL3Q)
Police are afraid that protesters during the G20 Summit protests will rip up trees and throw them at the cops. In my head I immediately imagine a burly union dude grabbing a young sapling with one hand, ripping it out of the ground with a great cry towards Odin and hurling it at the police.
What's next, throwing skinny vegans at the police?
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It was reported in the National Post Trees are the latest G20 security casualties
Quote: "The trees could be ripped out of the ground by demonstrators "and then you've got a huge bar," said Constable Wendy Drummond, a spokeswoman for the Integrated Security Unit. Despite promises from summit organizers to replace the trees once foreign leaders leave town on June 27, the move bewilders tree lovers.
The trees will be removed from within the RCMP-controlled zone, which envelopes the Metro Toronto Convention Centre and the surrounding area. Organizers would not say which trees or how many will be hauled away.
Mr. Calzavara from the Council of Canadians says the thought that a sapling could be turned into a weapon is "outrageous."
"I would challenge the police to get a couple of burly officers and try to pull one of these trees out of the ground," he said. "You'd need an axe to cut the thing down. And if you've already got an axe, you wouldn't need a tree."
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Hopefully, the tossed vegans will land safely into Harper's fake lake. (I can picture Sartre floating by on an inflatable mattress).
Oh and by the way, the G20 Security Team wants to be your friend on Facebook! (Don't worry, this is not the link to the Facebook site)
Haha! Fabulous post, Krystalline. How ridiculous. This is the first I've heard that they pulled all the saplings out - what idiots! And I love the response from the Council of Canadians too.
Thanks for this.
Note: the picture I drew above is an artistic interpretation of what might occur at the G8/G20 in the minds of the police -- no actual trees or vegans were harmed in its production. krystalline.
The saplings issue is, indeed, outrageous and funny... We will see what happens on the weekend. But I do believe that if violence/violent tactics are on display from protesters, that it won't be only provocateurs doing it, as the Council - which I have had great respect for in the past - has implied in its press release a few days go, demanding of Harper that he disclose that no provocateurs will be used... Krystalline, I'm still interested in your point of view on Rovics' piece regarding this. And I still believe that support for diversity of tactics has blurred the lines, providing tacit endorsement for violent tactics and those who wish to use them, when we can never avoid judging tactics or their effectiveness.. in fact by 'refusing to judge' or discuss, we tacitly condone...