UPDATE: You can read an article I wrote about my experience over at BlogTO.
Today I went to go cover to G20 protests in Toronto. Being a Torontonian and a photographer it was something that I naturally had to capture. This is a series of 72 images shot on June 27, 2010 in chronological order.
__________
Police gearing up at Spadina and Bloor.
__________
A police officer in riot gear entering an EMS vehicle.
________
A police bus heading towards an unknown location.
________
A taxi cab cuts through a set of backed up streetcars due to the proest ahead on Queen St. West.
___________
A man is told to get off a bus shelter and is not arrested. This was the most violent act that I witnessed.
_________
Protests play music and throw Monopoly money around as bystanders and police look on.
_________
A protester lights a five dollar Canadian bill on fire.
_________
Discarded monopoly money that lies around the ashes of the Canadian five dollar bill.
________
Police block access south of Queen Street.
_________
Protests sit on street in peaceful protest chanting "Who's city? Our city."
_________
Media and protestors take a break and catch up with what else might be going on in the city via mobile devices.
_____________
TTC officials closely listen for further instructions over loud protest noise.
_________
The first arrest north of Queen Street is made.
___________
Police block an alleyway where the first arrested individual is brought into custody. A few seconds later an officer in plain clothes emerges.
________
Police continue to block the alleyway as begin protestors chant.
________
Police dismounting to create a bike blockade north of Queen St.
___________
Tension begins to mount as police begin to enforce a riot blockade.
_________
A police line is set up behind the further southbound streetcar from Queen/Spadina.
________
The policeman who explained to me I could leave by moving south on Spadina, or east through an alley. There was NO mention of arrest.
________
A bystander stops to take a photo of protestors and police. A common scene at the Toronto G20.
_______
Police advance towards the crowd to block the North sidewalk of Queen St.
________
Police hold their ground and maintain their positions.
_______
A protestor displays a peace sign with his hand to police.
________
Protestors let police know of their peaceful intent.
_______
Police advance from south towards the crowd entrapping over 250 people from leaving the area.
_______
A female protestor asks police "What's going on here?"
__________
An officer from York region instructing riot police to advance forward.
________
Police let their presence known as chaos ensues on Queen Street during O Canada.
_________
This shot shows the police on both sides with everyone trapped in between with protestors looking both ways.
_______
Aerial shots of the crowd and riot police.
_________
A police officer watches as a G20 protestor holds a sign while being trapped.
_______
Police begin to pick and arrest protestors in the detainment zone.
________
CityTV's Francis D'Souza and his crew surrender to police.
_________
Protestors begin to give themselves up to police.
_______
Police pinpoint individuals from a crowd. Three officers pass the police line to make arrests.
________
Innocent bystanders who were in the area give themselves up to police under the impression that everyone would be arrested.
_______
More innocent civilians are arrested under the impression that everyone would be placed under arrest.
_______
Media scramble.
_______
Arrests continue for hours on end.
_______
A Japanese camera man trying to figure out when he will be able to leave.
_________
A medically ill woman is escorted by police.
_______
A police officer takes a picture of the detainment zone with his cellular device.
________
The final G20 media scramble.