Expect more traffic congestion, police warn
Jesse McLean
Staff Reporter Police have added a water cannon to their arsenal as they step up security ahead of this week’s G20 summit in Toronto.
Provincial police Const. Michelle Murphy of the Integrated Security Unit says the water projection system will be used to control large crowds if there are riots.
Workers were busy all weekend building the zigzag of steel fencing that will surround the leaders and delegates during this week’s G20 summit and have put the finishing touches on the three-metre-tall fence that surrounds the security zone.
Security preparations for summit are becoming more and more noticeable. Scores of police — some, brought it from cities coast to coast, still wearing their out-of-town uniforms — were patrolling the downtown core Sunday.
Meanwhile, three bronze elephant statues that decorate Commerce Court near King and Bay Sts. were temporarily removed because of the G20.
“The bike locks. The benches. They’re taking everything,” said a guard at the Court, a popular lunch spot for those working in the nearby bank towers.
The city has removed trash cans, bus shelters and even young saplings from the summit area out of concern the street furniture might be ripped out and used as arsenal by violent protesters.
Const. Wendy Drummond, spokesperson with the summit’s Integrated Security Unit. said the decision to move the matriarch elephant and her two calves was done by the property owner and not recommended by police.
The statues, however, could become targets, she said.
“They could spray paint. They could damage it that way.”
The portion of fence erected on Bay St., between Front and Wellington Sts., is causing “noticeable traffic congestion” that’s spreading to nearby streets around the security zone, Drummond said.
Busloads of out-of-town police were reportedly being shepherded inside the former Toronto Film Studios on Eastern Ave., where police have set up a hush-hush temporary jail for processing detained protesters.
Drummond said the increase in officers, in part, is to make citizens used to seeing so many police, and said the number of officers will grow “progressively” until it’s in the thousands.
Larger demonstrations are expected to begin Monday afternoon at Allan Gardens on Jarvis St., where protesters pledge to take “action against the agenda of the rich to marginalize and criminalize the poor.”
Demonstrations are planned throughout the week, including a block party and a tent city on Friday.
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/torontog20summit/article/826245--police-add-water-cannon-to-g20-arsenal
I chose this article because it just shocked me on the kinda things they are doing just because of this G20 thing. I really thought it was some sort of joke but they really are bringing out the water guns.
Response
Personally I believe it was wrong in the first place to spend so much money on protection, it drawed more attention to the G20 event and made it seem like they have so much to hide. Although the protestors are abusing their "freedom of speech" and are acting in ways they should'nt it is still wrong that the police are taking action in this way as well it is just a waste of water that other people need in the world. The Police should take regular action and procedures. We are already losing money we do not need to waste a precious resource as well. They can conduct this way better than they already are.
I agree this is really not neccessary, why water guns, why not just tell the protesters to just riot in an area further down the road. It seems unwanted attention is being drawn because of these crazy government plots.It is quite clear now that our government is wasting our money on unwanted material i believe the public should have a right to choose where the money go.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Paris. I feel that it is unnecessary to spend so much money for security purposes. In my opinion, more attention is being steered towards the money being put into the security/protection rather than the event itself.
ReplyDeleteI also feel that there are one too many security extremes are taking place in the city for an event that will only last about three days. “The city has removed trash cans, bus shelters and even young saplings from the summit area out of concern the street furniture might be ripped out and used as arsenal by violent protesters”. The statues, however, could become targets, she said. “They could spray paint. They could damage it that way.”
From my point of view, the protesters are just showing their thoughts towards the idea of G20. Aside from that they are Torontonians too. Why would they want to cause harm to their own society by damaging icons within the downtown region?
I think that instead of planning on dispersing the crowds of protesters with the help of equipment such as water cannons and tear gas, the government should respond and listen to what the people have to say and come up with some sort of a mutual agreement, in order to prevent anything from happening during the weekend of G20.