Police Brutality

Apparently she acted in self-defense when the youth was on top of her trying to strangle her. I do not think that the family received a proper apology for the mishap from the mayor and maybe that short sightedness is what fueled some violence today. It still is no reason for demonstrators to break windows and threaten a store-owner that he would get hurt if he didn’t get back into his shop. His store window was broken. Is there ever any absolute logic when a riot takes to the streets?

If one studies the psychology of people ready to get arrested for rioting in the streets, there is no one uniform behaviour. There is though a certain moment that can turn a peaceful demonstration into a riot as one person can be influenced by the next. Oddly enough some were almost dancing in the middle of the street on their way down to Place des Arts from Mount Royal metro where they started out with rotten fruit in their hands. But were they all going to smash windows on the way down? All it takes is just a few who feel law is in their own hands and they undo what they are supposed to exemplified. They were demonstrating against police brutality and their method was through the intimidation of store owners and innocent people. Over three hundred were arrested by the way. I don’t agree with unwarranted brutality and have heard of exaggerated reactions on the part of the police force but this kind of action does not make the cause against violence very believable.

Although the riot did not cause as much damage as the one in 2002, there was still a heavy amount of damage amounting to about $200, 000 with cracked windows, overturned roadsigns and dumpsters. Still the police had no right to rush an unsuspecting group of people as the demonstration became violent.

Both sides are at fault in the matter and my guess is that with the event occurring once a year and a lot of unemployment going around the city, the reason for the lashing out is probably due to the discontent.