Protesters smashing windows

[Yamer]

"Stop wasting money on the Olympic Games and start paying for these windows!"

Really, do these idiots really believe this is a valid resolution. It makes no sense. They want money to be spent on better things and now people have to use that possible money to pay for windows.

I know it's miniscule, but how do they expect this to help their cause. They are hypocrites.

[Coys1882]

The moment they start destroying property which belongs to everyday people who have to pay out of pocket to fix it - the reasons of their protest become moot to me.

Proper protest is one thing - mindless hooligans with idle hands and thoughts smashing things is another.

[Brick]

Some of these 'protesters' are professional agitators that travel around the world to events such as this. They should be dealt with harshly.

[Jetsfan]

Here are some pictures of the damage









http://www.calgarysun.com/sports/van...68746-qmi.html

[HOOT]

Looks like they were just trying to Paint the Town Red.

[Devils'Advocate]

*sigh*

As someone who joined in G7 protests and I have been at the heart of other protests as a videographer, I can tell you that these mass protests are NOT a homogenous group. There are different groups, with different issues. The most vilely hated are the "black block". These are the guys that are wearing the kerchiefs over their faces, carrying sticks, with anarchist tattoos.... and most of them self-identify as anarchists, but really all they want to do is smash stuff. They will hide in the midst of peaceful groups trying to make a point. I remember one particular protest where the hare krishna group, the most pacifistic group of them all, tried to get in the way of the "black block" because they knew that everything that they stood for, everything that they were trying to communicate with their protest was going to be overshadowed by these asses who just want to cause chaos.

These asshats, among other things, made me reconsider my means of activism. To the masses, protests generally equal "breaking windows and destroying property" even though that is usually limited to less than 1% of the participants. Any attempts to organize a protest for something you believe in will inevitably be tarnished by the "anarchists" (many of whom are ironically living off welfare), making the general populace reject the idea you are trying to convey.

[tkflames]

Originally Posted by Eastern Girl

To completely simplify it, they don't like the Olympics as they feel the money poured into the Olympics would have been better spent on social services, affordable housing, education, etc.

They are so stupid...I swear there is too many people here that protest for the sake of protesting. There is less than a thousand of them and their disposable porition of their tax dollars has been spent on affordable housing/social services. I, like millions in the lower mainland paid taxes too and want my disposable tax dollars allocated to the Olympics. I am so tired of a minority trying to allocate a disproportionate amount of tax dollars to their cause.

Disclaimer: By no means does this mean that I am against tax dollars going to affordable housing/education etc. But I also believe that the Olympic committee has done an excellent job of meeting their promises and helped many maintain employment (or provided an opportunity for employment) during last years recession.

[Infamous1]

I was worried that the protesters would do something major to make their point and embarass the whole city/province/country.

A few broken windows, I can live with. I'm just worried they will do something really bad.....

[HOOT]

Originally Posted by tkflames

But I also believe that the Olympic committee has done an excellent job of meeting their promises and helped many maintain employment (or provided an opportunity for employment) during last years recession.

Excellent job by spending how much more money than was "promised" to start?

This was barely a great a idea within budget, but the fact they went outside of it so much is making this a terrible idea.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Brick

Some of these 'protesters' are professional agitators that travel around the world to events such as this. They should be dealt with harshly.

It actually amazes me that these idiots were even allowed into the country. Many of these professional protesters are well known to police.

So far, these games have been an unmitigated disaster. Sucks for VANOC to have to deal with all of this negative publicity.

[flames_fan_down_under]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

I am absolutely disgusted by this. I have no tolerance for the destruction of property in Canada by protesters. Zero.

I think this might be the end of any further protests during the Olympics.

Police can now take an extremely hard line on this and insist that any protests occur at a designated spot only. Feel free to protest, but do so responsbily.

And perhaps consider protesting the protesters who are destroying property. They are causing more people to ignore your message than anything the government is doing.

I can certainly agree with this.

The city has been pretty accommodating to the protesters so far, yet this obviously crosses the line into the realm of civil disobedience.

[Resolute 14]

These morons want police to take a hard line though. They want police brutalizing "innocent" protesters to be plastered all over the world's newspapers and telecasts.

The funny thing is, nobody at all cares what it is they are protesting.

[bubbsy]

Originally Posted by Infamous1

I was worried that the protesters would do something major to make their point and embarass the whole city/province/country.

A few broken windows, I can live with. I'm just worried they will do something really bad.....

Completely agree.

I think vancouver is an amazing place for the olympcs. Last night, watching the opening ceremonies, and see the beautiful city of Vancouver, made me extremely proud as a canadian. I was getting choked up seeing gretzky raise the flame.

There will always be some level of protesting at such a high visibility event. Good or bad (in their cause), i just hope they do their thing in a respectful fashion rather than destroying the integrity of the event at hand, with the worldwide microscope zoomed in on Canada.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Tourists have genuine reason to fear for their personal safety.

[fatso]

Originally Posted by Jetsfan

Here are some pictures of the damage




http://www.calgarysun.com/sports/van...68746-qmi.html

I actually live in the building right behind the cops here.

Saw much of the protest this morning, but I didn't see any broken windows or anything. In fact, the protestors from what I could gather were pretty good. Cops did a great job handling them too... stayed back and never became antagonistic, but were clearly prepared.

If i get a chance I'll post up my pics.

[FanIn80]

I'm pretty sure those "protesters" are just pissed-off Canuck fans. The Olympic Committee stole their Cup parade route for that crazy Gretzky-in-a-Truck thing last night.

Oh well, at least Willie Mitchel will get to dust off the old Vancouver Transit Map and his box of crayons again.

[Diamondhead]

I'm getting sick and tired of the ignorant attitudes that are being displayed in here.

The homeless people that roam the streets in Vancouver come from all across Canada and they are sent there by YOUR provincial govts. Do you people not remember when Alberta was giving money and plane tickets to ship their welfare bums to Vancouver? This is Canada's problem and I'm sick and tired of Vancouver getting all the blame.

As for the "protesters" causing damage downtown; These thugs come from all across North America and they are not representative of the population here. This isn't 60,000 Vancouverites attending a parade. This isn't part of the 26 million Canadians that watched the opening ceremonies last night. This is a couple hundred kids that came from all over North America to cause criminal acts because they are young and have nothing better to do. They are not there to articulate any issues. They are there to vandalize the city and assault innocent people. That's the reality.

[nfotiu]

What is it about BC and riots. I can't even think of a have decent disturbance anywhere else in Canada. But off the top of my head, BC has had the Penticton Peachfest riots, the Kelowna Regatta riots, Guns and roses riot at BC Place, the Chretien riot, the only "losing the Stanley Cup" (afaik), even a riot at the Parksville Sand Castle competition!

[HotHotHeat]

Originally Posted by Diamondhead

I'm getting sick and tired of the ignorant attitudes that are being displayed in here.

The homeless people that roam the streets in Vancouver come from all across Canada and they are sent there by YOUR provincial govts. Do you people not remember when Alberta was giving money and plane tickets to ship their welfare bums to Vancouver? This is Canada's problem and I'm sick and tired of Vancouver getting all the blame.

As for the "protesters" causing damage downtown; These thugs come from all across North America and they are not representative of the population here. This isn't 60,000 Vancouverites attending a parade. This isn't part of the 26 million Canadians that watched the opening ceremonies last night. This is a couple hundred kids that came from all over North America to cause criminal acts because they are young and have nothing better to do. They are not there to articulate any issues. They are there to vandalize the city and assault innocent people. That's the reality.

You certainly don't know your city very well. Or the issues. Let's make this simple - If the games were in say...Calgary, would there be protests? Probably not. There is an undeniable local protestor culture in Vancouver, and it comes from the massive social inequalities that exist there. If you feel better blaming other governments for Vancouver's problems, go ahead.

[Hemi-Cuda]

Originally Posted by Diamondhead

I'm getting sick and tired of the ignorant attitudes that are being displayed in here.

The homeless people that roam the streets in Vancouver come from all across Canada and they are sent there by YOUR provincial govts. Do you people not remember when Alberta was giving money and plane tickets to ship their welfare bums to Vancouver? This is Canada's problem and I'm sick and tired of Vancouver getting all the blame.

As for the "protesters" causing damage downtown; These thugs come from all across North America and they are not representative of the population here. This isn't 60,000 Vancouverites attending a parade. This isn't part of the 26 million Canadians that watched the opening ceremonies last night. This is a couple hundred kids that came from all over North America to cause criminal acts because they are young and have nothing better to do. They are not there to articulate any issues. They are there to vandalize the city and assault innocent people. That's the reality.

your city has a history of violence and riots. it has nothing to do with the rest of Canada