G20 Toronto photo gallery: the black bloc in the core
G20 Toronto photo gallery: the black bloc in the core
By James Helmer | June 27, 2010
By James Helmer | 06/27/2010
For hours yesterday, downtown Toronto became a riot zone after peaceful demonstrations turned violent. This morning, as repair and clean-up continued, many blamed black bloc rioting tactics for the destruction. Bloc groups are hard to define: they are amorphous mobs with members dressed head to toe in black. Individuals can move in and out of larger groups, disappearing almost as quickly as they materialized. In the case of Toronto’s anti-G20 riots on Saturday, the bloc was reportedly composed of members of the Southern Ontario Anarchist Resistance, as well as compatriots from Quebec who drove in to participate in some of the weekend’s protests. Here, a sample of the group’s destructive handiwork and its aftermath.
30306 Black block protesters march along Yonge Street, June 26, 2010 (Image: James Helmer) https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/IMG_9457.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/IMG_9457.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/IMG_9457.jpg 512 341 {"aperture":"5.6","camera":"Canon EOS 5D","created_timestamp":"1277494176","focal_length":"20","iso":"500","shutter_speed":"0.0166666666667"} https://torontolife.com/city/g20-toronto-photo-gallery-the-black-bloc-in-the-core/slide/img_9457/ img_9457 0 0
30305 Black block protesters march along Yonge Street, June 26, 2010 (Image: James Helmer) https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/IMG_9443.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/IMG_9443.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/IMG_9443.jpg 512 341 {"aperture":"5.6","camera":"Canon EOS 5D","created_timestamp":"1277494168","focal_length":"20","iso":"500","shutter_speed":"0.005"} https://torontolife.com/city/g20-toronto-photo-gallery-the-black-bloc-in-the-core/slide/img_9443/ img_9443 0 0
30304 A shop owner surveys damage to his store along Yonge Street, June 26, 2010 (Image: James Helmer) https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/IMG_9389.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/IMG_9389.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/IMG_9389.jpg 512 341 {"aperture":"5.6","camera":"Canon EOS 5D","created_timestamp":"1277493989","focal_length":"32","iso":"500","shutter_speed":"0.005"} https://torontolife.com/city/g20-toronto-photo-gallery-the-black-bloc-in-the-core/slide/img_9389/ img_9389 0 0
30303 A 2x4 was thrown through the window of a Yonge Street shop during riots in Toronto on June 26, 2010 (Image: James Helmer) https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/IMG_9353.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/IMG_9353.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/IMG_9353.jpg 512 341 {"aperture":"5.6","camera":"Canon EOS 5D","created_timestamp":"1277493813","focal_length":"38","iso":"500","shutter_speed":"0.00625"} https://torontolife.com/city/g20-toronto-photo-gallery-the-black-bloc-in-the-core/slide/img_9353/ img_9353 0 0
30302 Black block protesters are photographed on Yonge Street, June 26, 2010 (Image: James Helmer) https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/IMG_9145.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/IMG_9145.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/IMG_9145.jpg 512 341 {"aperture":"8","camera":"Canon EOS 5D","created_timestamp":"1277493282","focal_length":"70","iso":"1000","shutter_speed":"0.0125"} https://torontolife.com/city/g20-toronto-photo-gallery-the-black-bloc-in-the-core/slide/img_9145/ img_9145 0 0
30301 A gas mask is worn by police in riot gear in preparation of anti-G20 protests in the downtown core on June 26, 2010 (Image: James Helmer) https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/IMG_8537.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/IMG_8537.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/IMG_8537.jpg 512 341 {"aperture":"5.6","camera":"Canon EOS 5D","created_timestamp":"1277445970","copyright":"??James Helmer","focal_length":"105","iso":"100","shutter_speed":"0.00625","title":"G20 Summit, June 2010"} https://torontolife.com/city/g20-toronto-photo-gallery-the-black-bloc-in-the-core/slide/img_8537/ img_8537 0 0
30300 A police officer holds a canister shotgun during the G20 protests along Queen Street on June 26, 2010 (Image: James Helmer) https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/IMG_7914.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/IMG_7914.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/IMG_7914.jpg 512 341 {"aperture":"4","camera":"Canon EOS 5D Mark II","created_timestamp":"1277542687","focal_length":"105","iso":"100","shutter_speed":"0.0666666666667"} https://torontolife.com/city/g20-toronto-photo-gallery-the-black-bloc-in-the-core/slide/img_7914/ img_7914 0 0
30299 Peaceful protesters approach police on Yonge and King Street. Black bloc members are known for moving in and out of larger crowds, making them harder to apprehend (Image: James Helmer) https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/IMG_7896.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/IMG_7896.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/IMG_7896.jpg 512 341 {"aperture":"4.5","camera":"Canon EOS 5D Mark II","created_timestamp":"1277542053","focal_length":"24","iso":"200","shutter_speed":"0.025"} https://torontolife.com/city/g20-toronto-photo-gallery-the-black-bloc-in-the-core/slide/img_7896/ img_7896 0 0
30298 "G20 not enough to rule the world" sign seen on Yonge Street, June 26, 2010 (Image: James Helmer) https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/IMG_7874.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/IMG_7874.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/IMG_7874.jpg 512 341 {"aperture":"7.1","camera":"Canon EOS 5D Mark II","created_timestamp":"1277541875","focal_length":"24","iso":"200","shutter_speed":"0.01"} https://torontolife.com/city/g20-toronto-photo-gallery-the-black-bloc-in-the-core/slide/img_7874/ img_7874 0 0
Sitting in the comfort of my Toronto house looking at these photos, it’s hard to imagine this is our city.
why were these thugs allowed to do what they did ???