The G-20 this week was supposed to be an opportunity to showcase Pittsburgh. Instead, the city turned into a police state as 4,000 officers tried to fend off freaks run a muck. Obviously, we all expected this to happen, but it is very disappointing that many in the international press corps are expressing dismay that there aren't any real yinzers to interview. But would YOU go dahntahn and be immersed in the possible mayhem? These reporters have to be a little disappointed when they can only train their pens and notebooks on Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato and Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Steelerstahl.Clearly, the most bizarre moment happened when a man in a bloodied seal costume crawled on the sidewalk with the anarchist mob. The Post-Gazette and their Big Story blog put it this way...
***The goal is to reach the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, where The G-20 is set to convene. How close they will get, even what route they will take, remains unclear. Nobody at the park had a clear idea, nor a single message.Near one entrance, a group of city bicycle patrolman watched a man dressed as a bleeding baby seal drag his way along the sidewalk.
"I think he's a seal," said the one officer.
In truth, he looked like a bleeding mushroom. The guy dragged himself until he got out of camera range, then got up and joined the others.***
(Here's the video that shows the ailing seal about one minute in)
I don't mind most of the protests, in fact, some are quite clever. But I sure hate those anarchists. Obviously, their title says it all. However, why do mom 'n' pop shops deserve their business windows smashed because their owners are trying to make a living? How are they a part of this globalization conspiracy when they're probably barely making enough money to keep the lights on? It's ridiculous, and I wish the anarchists many arrests during their recent vacation to Pittsburgh.
(Photo by Scott Beveridge)
My favorite protester:
ReplyDeletehttp://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fnsOmb0Fvog/SrvlG3o4inI/AAAAAAAABuY/9R70hSEVZrc/s1600/Stanley%2520cup%2520daily%2520show.JPG
Indeed, although what was he protesting? The protesters or the Red Wings?
ReplyDeleteThere were more Pittsburghers in Downtown today for the circus than yesterday. There really wasn't anything to be afraid of at the end of the day.
ReplyDeleteThe 'Wings might inspire me to throw some poo...
ReplyDeleteUPDATE: I'm beginning to change my opinion on the police reaction to the event. The P-G said one of it's reporters was arrested last night in Oakland when police freaked out and lumped all the protesters in with the Pitt students and civilians. They made 110 arrests in Oakland last night.
ReplyDelete"Among the arrested was Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reporter Sadie Gurman who was taken into custody while filing reports for the Post-Gazette's web site and print edition. Ms. Gurman, who was wearing Post-Gazette and Pittsburgh summit media credentials around her neck when arrested before midnight, was released from jail shortly after 9 a.m. today."
Ahhhhhhhh, I smell a lawsuit!
It was bound to happen when you have that many cops and freaks together in the same place for too long.
ReplyDeleteMike, I know this does not relate to this thread topic, but you might want to read this article in today's WSJ:
ReplyDeletehttp://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203440104574400582081349944.html
I know a thread much earlier discussed the difficulties of newspapers. I feared if I posted way back there, it might get lost. Some of your friends might like read it as well.
If you wish to delete my post after getting the link, please feel free to do so. Thanks.
Scott, it seems that cops and freaks make for a volatile combination.
ReplyDeleteAnd thanks for the link, Roger. I smell a future blog post surrounding that article.
One final thing. Here's a video of cops in riot gear storming Pitt's campus and trapping students who were observing the activities from a stairwell above. Beware, there is some poor language involved.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bopZT_zhwj4&feature=player_embedded
The reporter from the P-G, Sadie Gurman, was arrested after running into a bunch of rude, antagonizing youths who had been taunting the cops for two days. I saw them a day earlier doing the same silly dance and song she reported, using words that urged the "sexy" riot cops to take off their gear. Maybe the cops had had enough of them.
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine riot police would be spurred to physically engage protesters because of a chant of "You are sexy, you are cute, take off that riot suit."
ReplyDeleteOh, and Mike... can't wait to read your blog post on that WSJ article provided by Roger... there is one glaring issue that I see very early on in the article, and I'd like to address it once you write about it.
ReplyDeleteToodles :-)
I think the police caused more of a disturbance than anyone else Friday night. Like anyone who breaks the law or violates the Constituion, they should be held accountable.
ReplyDelete