You failed to mention whether your movement/members were the ones who organized the destruction/vandalism downtown. I remember seeing a story on CBC of a certain individual from that g8/g20 song saying that he thinks property damage is okay. If that is really what certain people believe, why hide your faces? You forgot to mention that the vandals, for the most part, left the peaceful protesters to take the beating. If you organized this than I don't understand what message you were trying to convey. You popularized the media, made a lot of people watching cheer for the police to fight back (although most changed their minds after seeing the violent police response), you attacked corporations that can replace all that you damaged without even putting a dent in their funds, and you justified the billion dollar security budget. Oh and the Ontario government had to pay for many of these shops to be repaired, the ones that were local businesses. There are much better things the provincial government should be spending money on, but we can't just leave these private business owners out in the cold.

Most people I have spoken with think these vandals deserve punishment/jail time, as do certain violent officers. Their were mistakes made on both sides. There are good cops and bad cops, just like their are good activists and bad activists. The fact that faces were hidden PROVES they knew it was wrong.

I will continue to speak out for the real victims, those who did nothing but were arrested, but unless your group can prove they did not provoke this than you will get no respect or sympathy from me. 

SOLIDARITY!

 I actually explained  why I believe it was wrong it that post as well.

A- Changed out of black clothes and either scattered or fled, leaving peaceful protesters to suffer. Many are questioning whether your movement did so just to try and get others to dislike the police and government.

B- It popularized the media, more people were tuning in to their tv sets. I know I was for about 3 days. CP24 had the highest amount of viewers they've had.

C- You made a lot of people cry out for action AGAINST your group because you attacked PEOPLE as well, not just property. There are many accounts of this recorded.

D- You destroyed private business owners property. The federal government would not fund this so the province had to pay it. The provincial government doesn't need to drain more funds, especially since it was the federal governments issue.

E- You attacked chain stores where repairing the store doesn't even put a dent in their wallets.

F- You justified the security budget. They might even spend MORE next time. If the protests went peacefully they would have been questioned about the budget. They might then spend less in the future.

Most people would agree with me that what your group did was WRONG. The majority of our society wants your group punished. 

I don't understand why you do not move out of the cities and go somewhere where you can live the way you desire...without government, rules, laws, corporations (which are popular because the most amount of people buy their products), colonization, etc. If this is truly what you want and obviously not what most others want, this should make sense. You can't force other people who don't agree with you to abide by your rules and follow your beliefs.

The actions that Torontonians saw during the G20 on behalf of your group are the ultimate demonstration of your hypocracy. The same cowardly "anarchists" who hide behind masks, websites, and each other make you all look like a joke. You have no purpose, no point and no message. Canada is the best country in the world, and provides the greatest protection of civil liberties to its citizens, which by the way your whiny comrades are the first to demand. Your sense of entitlement is perhaps the strongest demonstration of you hypocracy. The same state that you attack is the one you cling to for security, health and protection. If you truly believe in your cause take it to a proper forum. There are people all over the world who wish nothing more than to be able to live their lives in Canada. Toronto saw anarchists in Gap t-shirts, nike sneakers, with OHIP & bank cards in their wallets upon arrest - living day to day off of the very institutions and government organizations that you claim are corrupt. Your demonstration highlighted the ignorance and futility of your organization. Your violence hindered the legitimate protest voices that seriously needed this platform, the eyes of the world were shifted away from well planned, clear communications by protest groups who are welcome and necessary in our democracy. You have undermined the very causes that you seek to advance.

"They have targeted twenty of us, long-term community organizers, as the so-called “ring leaders” of the protests that they hope to scapegoat. Even this act shows how little they understand us. We have no leaders."

Theory and practice are often two different things. Dan, I think you need to face the reality here. The police, whether right or wrong, managed to turn inactive most of the "leadership" of SOAR and AW@L. Even though most (all?) got bail the restrictions around attending protests and contact with activists mean they can't participate in the organizations. The reality is if you want SOAR & AW@L to survive and stay vibrant you and a few other key Administrationpeople need to replace that leadership void.