Olympic protesters smash department store windows

[KurtFF8]

Source (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100213/ap_on_sp_ol/oly_olympic_protest;_ylt=Ark4PIKa9p0Rnq1Z8geiytqs0 NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTNuZzFvY2hlBGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMTAwMjEzL 29seV9vbHltcGljX3Byb3Rlc3QEY2NvZGUDbW9zdHBvcHVsYXI EY3BvcwM5BHBvcwM2BHB0A2hvbWVfY29rZQRzZWMDeW5faGVhZ GxpbmVfbGlzdARzbGsDb2x5bXBpY3Byb3Rl)


By ANNE M. PETERSON, AP Sports Writer Anne M. Peterson, Ap Sports Writer – 2 hrs 19 mins ago
VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Police in riot gear confronted more than 200 masked protesters who hurled newspaper boxes through the display windows of a popular department store selling Olympic souvenirs.
Seven people were arrested after officers carrying clubs and shields quashed the downtown protest on the opening day of competition at the Vancouver Olympics. There were no immediate reports of injuries.
Those arrested could face a variety of charges, including assault, Police Chief Jim Chu said. At least one could be charged with weapons possession for wrapping a bicycle chain around his fist and threatening passers-by. None of the protesters was immediately identified.
Chu said police knew in advance about the protest, but decided to move in once they knew "criminals" were involved.
Authorities said they were wary of masked anarchists who dress in black and use a tactic called "Black Block" to hide their identities. Among them was a loosely organized group from central Canada known to disrupt events that draw media coverage, police said.
"Their tactic is to hide within the ranks of legitimates protesters," Chu said.
He maintained that about half the protesters were "criminals intent ... on committing violent acts, including damage to property, including assaulting passers-by."
The protest was originally organized by the Olympic Resistance Network to "disturb 'business as usual'" in Vancouver. The ORN is an umbrella group for many causes surrounding the games, ranging from environmental to economic issues.
The most prominent involved native Indians who want to reclaim their property ("No Olympics on Stolen Ancient Land") and those angry over the amount of money spent on Olympics as opposed to public housing ("Homes Not Games").
Phone calls to the group were not immediately returned, but the group sent an e-mail Saturday saying 13 people were arrested.
After the demonstration, guards stood in front of Hudson Bay Company's broken windows, which were cordoned off with yellow police tape while Olympic tourists snapped photos. Workers removed the newspaper boxes.
Hudson's Bay is an official retailer for Olympic merchandise. Rich Gorman, regional vice president for the store, estimated the damage at about $10,000. He said the windows were expected to be replaced by the afternoon.
"It's just unfortunate but nobody was hurt and that's the key," Gorman said. "We'll move on."
Riley Arcand lives near the store and called the vandalism "disgusting."
"We live in the most nicest part of town and everybody's excited about the Olympics," he said. "And then you have people who want to ruin it."
A police spokeswoman said rags soaked with vinegar were found at the scene, and some of the masked protesters were wearing goggles — which could suggest they were anticipating tear gas or pepper spray. Some protests groups tell supporters that rags soaked in vinegar and held to the mouth can minimize the effects of the chemicals.
On Friday, several thousand protesters staged an anti-Olympics "Take Back Our Streets" rally before marching to the stadium where the opening ceremony was held. A standoff with police near B.C. Place lasted about two hours and was for the most part peaceful. The protest also was staged by ORN.
The group said three people were arrested in that protest. The police reported just one arrest.
Chu said the police will continue to monitor protests but do not want to impede freedom of speech.
"We still recognize that there are legitimate protests out there that want to send messages and exercise their rights," he said.
___
AP Sports Writer Jaime Aron contributed to this report.

[Agnapostate]

This is an event ostensibly intended to incorporate First Nation and Metis participation, but this illustrates that a few superficial symbols won't quell the sort of anger that caused the Mohawk uprising.

[What Would Durruti Do?]

Who is this "group from central Canada" they are talking about? Is it just a load of BS?

I was looking at pictures and the only flag I saw was a black and green flag. Is this central Canadian group a group of primitivists?

[bcbm]

Riley Arcand lives near the store and called the vandalism "disgusting."
"We live in the most nicest part of town and everybody's excited about the Olympics," he said. "And then you have people who want to ruin it."

i like that they picked this guy to interview.

[Invincible Summer]

There were rumours that the police would place agent provacteurs within the various anti-olympic protests - from what I've heard these rumours were more solidified when some protesters saw the "anarchists" that smashed the windows of the HBC getting dressed in an alley before the demo, as well as one of these "anarchists" assisting the police in confronting another demonstrator. Evidently there's footage somewhere but I can't find it

[bcbm]

There were rumours that the police would place agent provacteurs within the various anti-olympic protests - from what I've heard these rumours were more solidified when some protesters saw the "anarchists" that smashed the windows of the HBC getting dressed in an alley before the demo, as well as one of these "anarchists" assisting the police in confronting another demonstrator. Evidently there's footage somewhere but I can't find it

i really hate that anytime some windows get smashed or people fight the cops, there is an attempt to blame it on police agents. like there is no way any reasonable person would want to attack these things, so it must've been infiltrators. the march didn't have "attack" in the name or anything, and certainly there is no precedent for an anarchist demonstration ending in violence. :rolleyes: it seems like just another way to attack anarchists. where did these "rumors" start?

and getting dressed in an alley isn't very damning evidence. i think you would be a pretty big idiot to walk around in full black bloc gear in a heavily policed city where they have been intimidating protesters for months.

[Invincible Summer]

i really hate that anytime some windows get smashed or people fight the cops, there is an attempt to blame it on police agents. like there is no way any reasonable person would want to attack these things, so it must've been infiltrators. the march didn't have "attack" in the name or anything, and certainly there is no precedent for an anarchist demonstration ending in violence. :rolleyes: it seems like just another way to attack anarchists. where did these "rumors" start?

and getting dressed in an alley isn't very damning evidence. i think you would be a pretty big idiot to walk around in full black bloc gear in a heavily policed city where they have been intimidating protesters for months.

I'm just saying that there were rumours, I can't say who started them. Besides, previous police practice of using agents doesn't help.

The city is more heavily policed than usual, but I wouldn't say that wearing black while walking around (minus the mask and hood of course) is highly suspicious. Not necessarily black-bloc-ers, but quite a few demonstrators just showed up wearing fairly cliche activist clothing (i.e. dark clothing/camo clothing).

I don't know for sure at what point in time the people were seen getting dressed (i.e. right before the smashing happened or well before the demo) either. I'm also not claiming to have the facts, I'm just stating what some of the (speculative) talk is.

And of course it could very well be the run-of-the-mill anarchist that is smashing the windows of buildings, I'm not denying that.

I realize it's a bit "too easy" to just blame agents, but the possibility shouldn't be thrown out.

[bcbm]

i think people should wait until there is concrete evidence before they start badjacketing. there are always undercover cops on demos and they're occasionally provocateurs, but it has been clear from the actions and statements of anti-olympic organizers that there would at least be an attempt at this sort of damage during the games. even if there was a cop who joined in, i think it would be safe to say it was anarchists who organized this march and carried out the attacks, not the police. i think the reason these "rumors" start is because it gives some protesters a way to write off property damage and cast suspicion and resentment on anarchists, while avoiding attacking them directly and alienating the anarchists who do a lot of groundwork in these kind of campaigns.

[Saorsa]

Riley Arcand lives near the store and called the vandalism "disgusting."
"We live in the most nicest part of town and everybody's excited about the Olympics," he said. "And then you have people who want to ruin it."

Filthy proles invading the nicest part of this town! I moved here to keep away from those stinking ruffians and their immigrant buddies, and now they're ruining everything :(

[Die Neue Zeit]

My response is a quote from another board:

http://www.rabble.ca/babble/activism/boundaries-protest


To me, the "window smashers" are saying "I don't want to do the long term organizing work, educational work, consciousness raising that's necessary to bring about social change...I want to take a short cut...by damaging the bourgeoisie's property. I can show how militant I am...not like all those softy middle class liberal lefty types."

"Who cares if some middle class lefty liberal types can't take their kids to a demonstration...because I and my little group of cohorts have so militantly provoked the violence of the bourgeois state?"

IMHO, the "window smashers" are elitists of the worst kind. They're saying that my "oh so militant" actions are much more important than everyone elses. I'm much too militant to carry signs, chant slogans, sing songs and make speaches.

Even if there were no police agent provocateurs in this particular group of anarchists, these types of tactics leave the movement open to infiltration by police agents.

One of my co-workers was involved in a particularly long nasty strike here in Toronto a couple of decades ago. There was a company paid agent provocateur in the ranks who was exposed. Fortunately he was exposed...and it lead to the outlawing of professional strikebreakers in the province of Ontario.

To which I asked, "Besides, do these hooligans have political demands on offer?"

This is regardless of the involvement of agents provocateurs.

[bricolage]

My response is a quote from another board:

http://www.rabble.ca/babble/activism/boundaries-protest



To which I asked, "Besides, do these hooligans have political demands on offer?"

This is regardless of the involvement of agents provocateurs.

You also wrote;


Similar hooligans from the "International Workers Association" are being tried right now for doing something similar to a Serbian embassy. Good riddanceNo matter how much there is a genuine debate to be had and there is a probably a fair point to be taken from what you posted (aside from the tired accusation that people that smash windows do nothing but smash windows) I'm not really interested in the views of someone who will happily defend state 'justice'.

[bcbm]

My response is a quote from another board:

(http://www.rabble.ca/babble/activism/boundaries-protest)

not a very good quote.


To me, the "window smashers" are saying "I don't want to do the long term organizing work, educational work, consciousness raising that's necessary to bring about social change...I want to take a short cut...by damaging the bourgeoisie's property. I can show how militant I am...not like all those softy middle class liberal lefty types."

there is not any factual basis for this, especially in the context of the anti-olympics protests. anarchists have been a big part of the organizing effort, doing all of the things described here. i would imagine most of them also apply these talents to issues outside of the olympics as well.


"Who cares if some middle class lefty liberal types can't take their kids to a demonstration...because I and my little group of cohorts have so militantly provoked the violence of the bourgeois state?"

IMHO, the "window smashers" are elitists of the worst kind. They're saying that my "oh so militant" actions are much more important than everyone elses. I'm much too militant to carry signs, chant slogans, sing songs and make speaches.

anarchists participated in the large demonstration on day one where there were kids and all kinds of protesters and no windows were busted. this was an event organized by anarchists to be seperate from the "liberal" events on purpose.

also, typically after smashing shit people want to avoid the police, not fight them.


Even if there were no police agent provocateurs in this particular group of anarchists, these types of tactics leave the movement open to infiltration by police agents.

you have to be pretty naive to think the police need an excuse.


To which I asked, "Besides, do these hooligans have political demands on offer?"

they certainly did it for a reason (http://news.infoshop.org/article.php?story=20100216173157398).

[StoneFrog]

When you ignore the people what do you think will happen, the tiny amount i hear about any protests the last year here on the news only demonized the protests. Some of these reasons why they are protesting have been around for a very very long time, there's such things as a breaking point. Any sort of effort for change is suppressed and demonized, i dont blame anyone for being pissed.

-Wn.M

[Eastside Revolt]

In defense of the black bloc: A communique from Olympic resisters

A communiqué


February 14th, 2010 – Vancouver, Coast Salish Territories

On February 12th and 13th, 2010, thousands of courageous individuals came together to resist the 2010 Olympic police state and to attack the
corporations plundering the land and deepening poverty. We write this
communique as participants in and organizers of the black bloc presence at
these demonstrations, known as “Take Back Our City” and “2010 Heart
Attack.”

On February 12th, the Vancouver Police Department pacified us with a force of mounted police. The next day during 2010 Heart Attack, they deployed riot police armed with M4 carbine assault rifles. They claim this was necessary in order to stop the march from “jeopardizing public safety” – yet the only threats to public safety were in their own hands. Participants in the demonstration only undertook strategic attacks against corporations sponsoring the Olympics and did not harm or attack bystanders.

The media are now busy denouncing the political violence of property
destruction, such as the smashing of a Hudson's Bay Company window, as
though it were the only act of violence happening in this city. They
forget that economic violence goes on daily in Vancouver. People are
suffering and dying from preventable causes because welfare doesn't give
enough to afford rent, food or medicine, and because authorities routinely
ignore the medical emergencies of poor or houseless individuals. This
economic violence has gotten worse as we lose housing and social services
because of the Olympic Games. In response to this assault, thousands took to the streets, hundreds joining what is known as a black bloc.

The black bloc is not a formal organization; it has no leadership,
membership, or headquarters. Instead, the black bloc is a tactic: it is
something people *do* in order to accomplish a specific purpose. By
wearing black clothing and masking our faces, the black bloc allows for
greater protection to those who choose active self-defense. The majority
of people involved in the black bloc do not participate in property
destruction. However, in masking up they express their solidarity with
those who choose to take autonomous direct action against the corporations, authorities and politicians who wage war on our communities.

Participation in the black bloc is an act of courage. With only the
shirts on our backs and the masks on our faces, we took to the streets
against Canada's largest ever “peacetime” police force. Protected only by
black fabric and the support of our comrades, we stood in front of
antiriot cops armed with assault rifles, pistols and batons. We proved that $1 billion of “security” couldn't prevent us from clogging the heart of
downtown Vancouver and crashing a party of 100 000 people -- and getting
away with it.

You won't ever know who was in the black bloc this weekend, but you *do*
know us. We are the people who organize community potlucks, who dance
during street festivals, who make art, defend the land, build co-ops,
bicycles and community gardens. When we put on our black clothing, we are not a threat to you, but to the elites.

Whoever you are, one day you will join us. As long as government and
corporations attack our communities, we're going defend – and that means
attack.

Signed,

Two organizers and participants in the anarchist presence of the “Take
back our city” demonstration and “2010 Heart Attack” street march,
February 2010, Coast Salish Territories

[cyu]

Man taken down for "desecrating" Olympic torch:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FsmYwcbNeM

[Salyut]

I was looking at pictures and the only flag I saw was a black and green flag. Is this central Canadian group a group of primitivists?

I dunno much about anarcho-primitivism in Canada, but I'd guess they'd be local. Haven't heard of anything like that east of BC.

[blake 3:17]

The bits I`ve been able to gather is that it was a dumb thing to do. A broken window v social cleansing? The enemy is clear.

[Die Neue Zeit]

I'm not really interested in the views of someone who will happily defend state 'justice'.

I am against the terrorism charges levelled at the Belgrade Six. However, should they be tried for hooliganism, then it's fair game.

State "justice" is being employed, meanwhile, against neighbourhood hooligans who don't have working-class backgrounds. Either they're Student Left, or they're lumpen. I put "justice" in quotes because the hooligans are probably going to be charged with vandalism and not hooliganism.

[The Ungovernable Farce]

I am against the terrorism charges levelled at the Belgrade Six. However, should they be tried for hooliganism, then it's fair game.
What's your reason for believing the syndicalists did it? Do you know anything about IWA, you fucking idiot?


State "justice" is being employed, meanwhile, against neighbourhood hooligans who don't have working-class backgrounds.How do you know this?

Either they're Student Left, or they're lumpen. I put "justice" in quotes because the hooligans are probably going to be charged with vandalism and not hooliganism.How does being from the most impoverished section of the working class mean that you shouldn't support "lumpen" comrades against the state? Your complete lack of solidarity is genuinely fucking despicable.

[pierrotlefou]

I know a lot of you probably don't dig the anarchist kids there or their tactics but you have to admire their sense of urgency which is something I think a lot of other leftists lack.

[Die Neue Zeit]

What's your reason for believing the syndicalists did it? Do you know anything about IWA, you fucking idiot?
How do you know this?

I responded in the Belgrade thread.


How does being from the most impoverished section of the working class mean that you shouldn't support "lumpen" comrades against the state? Your complete lack of solidarity is genuinely fucking despicable.

"Lumpen" is a class apart from the modern working class. It is one of three underclasses (along with the lumpenbourgeoisie and lumpenproletariat, the latter also being a class apart from the modern working class).

[Eia]

I am against the terrorism charges levelled at the Belgrade Six. However, should they be tried for hooliganism, then it's fair game.

Irrespective of whether the Serbian state charges these individuals for ‘terrorism’ or ‘hooliganism’ the fact remains that the charges remain a form of political persecution aimed at harming left radicals in Serbia. We know this because this is exactly what the ruling class has stated.


State "justice" is being employed, meanwhile, against neighbourhood hooligans who don't have working-class backgrounds.

These aren’t “neighbourhood hooligans” you fucking munt, these are members of an Anarcho-Syndicalist group, not a bunch of thugs or terrorists as you and the Serbian state would like to confuse. Your “state justice” revolves around one of their members being tortured by cops. The original charges allowed for a sentence of up to 15 years in prison – all for the damage of a cracked window, a burn mark and the graffiti of an (A). 15 years for that has absolutely no resemblance to justice.


Either they're Student Left, or they're lumpen.

They’re members of an Anarcho-Syndicalist group, which is part of the IWA. One of their members was the IWA General Secretary. Here’s some advice for you: if you don’t know what you’re talking about then you should shut the fuck up.

[Die Neue Zeit]

Why do I think that my corrective post above was ignored? :confused:

"I responded in the Belgrade thread."

[MELT]

That's an excellent tactic in order conceal under the cloack of violence, the real issues in the demonstration, which are the rising poverty rates, the housing question, the costs of the olympics etc and also alienate any potential sympathizers among the wider population.

While violence should be used in the movement, you need to use it as long as it advances the revolutionary cause. In this case, once again the anarchists played right into the hands of the police.

[Dooga Aetrus Blackrazor]

I am impressed by their tactics. Hiding in a non-violent crowd is pretty clever. However, I did see a person leave a protest area only to be chased down by a masked individual. Now I don't know what happened as they went around a corner, but it seems unnecessary to me. Maybe he did something more serious. He should certainly be free to come and go as he pleases, as should anyone protest or no protest.

I don't have the most reliable sources. Questionable media outlets, craigslist, facebook, etc. But I've got the impression that most people are opposed to these protests. If violent protests aren't gaining public support, is it worth engaging in them? Even random people are getting into conflicts with protesters. Windows are easily replaceable. Non-violent protests can still be useful in certain cases.

I'm still sympathetic to the protesters, and I'm certainly not opposed to their tactics. I'd say I'm neutral. I'm just skeptical if its working towards the ends we promote.

[Eastside Revolt]

That's an excellent tactic in order conceal under the cloack of violence, the real issues in the demonstration, which are the rising poverty rates, the housing question, the costs of the olympics etc and also alienate any potential sympathizers among the wider population.

While violence should be used in the movement, you need to use it as long as it advances the revolutionary cause. In this case, once again the anarchists played right into the hands of the police.

The "real issues"?

The Olympics Resistance Network called for an Anti-Capitalist, Anti Colonial convergence to oppose the 2010 Olympics. These "real issues" you refer to, are symptomatic of the KKKanadian colonial, capitalist state. Any potential sympathizers who are lost beacause of broken windows and the use of self-defense againt state security forces, are too easily lost, and will have to be one over in the long term.

As a revolutionary I refuse to wait, and ask nicely while they destroy my communities through gentrification, brainwash my freinds and co-workers, and destroy the land, furthering the goals of colonialism against my comrades. Direct action must continue to increase, and in time, people and future generations will have a stronger stomach.

I fully support the actions taken by the Black Bloc on February 13th. The demonstrations' whole purpose was one of militant direct action, and no-one other than the carreerist liberal/pacifist/social-democratic participants of the demonstration had any opposition or false ideas about what they were engaging in.

The only ones who are playing into the hands of police on this one, are the liberals who defend the state, and attempt to create division within our movement. Their main concern is that they maintain their class, and carreer interests, as those in control of our movement and for what purpose it is built. That purpose is not revolution, but "progressive" rhetoric, that allows the continuation of our poverty, and subservience, while they get to look like heroes.

[bcbm]

That's an excellent tactic in order conceal under the cloack of violence, the real issues in the demonstration, which are the rising poverty rates, the housing question, the costs of the olympics etc

every time violence occurs at a protest, the media are usually pretty quick to try and isolate the violent protesters from the rest, giving a lot of air time to "peaceful" protesters to explain what the protests are really about.


and also alienate any potential sympathizers among the wider population.i don't think this is true. with the "violent" element separated, people will just support the "peaceful" element if they are sympathetic. but some people will support it, or at least become interested why people would act that way. i think it gets anarchist politics talked about more.


In this case, once again the anarchists played right into the hands of the police.by not being completely ignorable?

------


I am impressed by their tactics. Hiding in a non-violent crowd is pretty clever.the heart attack demonstration where the window breaking occurred was organized by anarchists as a space where direct action could happen. they weren't hiding in anything.

[Eastside Revolt]

http://vimeo.com/9705341 (http://vimeo.com/9705341)

[Martin Blank]

http://vimeo.com/9705341 (http://vimeo.com/9705341)

It's always fun to watch the middle-class left shoot each other in the face. :rolleyes: