After a day of rage: G20 Summit in Toronto
The Mayor of Toronto warned the citizens of the Centre of the Universe not to venture into the downtown today which is all very well and good except what do you do if you live in the downtown? As soon as sunset fell tonight my youngest and I decided to go on a tour of the neighborhood and check out what a day of mayhem caused our city for the dubious honour of hosting the G20 Summit. I think it is important to point out neither the mayor or city council lobbied to hold any of the summits in our city. It was imposed on us by the federal government. As you can see the Filmores Strip join tried to be welcome and accommodating.
Most of the stores around the Dundas & Yonge area were bordered up days ago but American Apparel wasn’t and unlike a great many other stores, it was open for business today. Not only did the ‘activists’ break the windows but buckets of excrement were thrown into the store. The activists alleged to be ‘caring individuals’ except their rage was expressed while the employees and customers were in the store at the time. It’s a miracle no one was hurt. The store probably had insurance which will cover the property and inventory damage but what about the wages of sales clerks? Sure, they will get a few unscheduled days off but that means no wages, and when you work for the minimum this hurts.
Moving north along Yonge Street along the west side Foot Locker, Urban Brick all fared better than American Apparel.
The ‘activists’ didn’t even spare the Zanzibar Strip joint. I am still trying to get my head around how ‘fighting the power’ requires the trashing of a strip joint.
The Bell outlet store was completely trashed.
Finally we arrived at College Park (College & Yonge). For those unfamiliar with downtown Toronto College Park is not just the site of a mall with a Tim Horton’s on the main floor but the upper floor is home to the second busiest court house in the city. Immediately across the street and approximately four small buildings west is the Toronto Police Headquarters. The real winners were the glass installation people. I walked by at least 12 trucks parked and working along the street.
We had a great many more pictures but for the first time in my memory Yonge Street was mostly dark so most of the pictures taken on my cellphone camera didn’t come out.
My final thoughts on the matter. This is what a billion dollar’s work of ’security’ buys and the present incarnation of the Conservative party will never carry a vote in Toronto. Thank you Stephen Harper
Martin Luther King Jr lead a peaceful protest with his march on Washington.
This was not peaceful by any means.
ps, thanks!:)
I was living in the States when Dr. King was killed…and the protests certainly weren’t ‘peaceful’.