tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9149446.post8847521348449637950..comments2023-10-10T10:34:10.843-06:00Comments on The Nexus of Assholery: No, Vancouver, You Can't Blame This One on the Black BlocPatrick Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04592482865332628189noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9149446.post-63577391077701369282011-06-16T15:37:15.931-06:002011-06-16T15:37:15.931-06:00To claim there was no riot on Whyte Ave during the...To claim there was no riot on Whyte Ave during the 2006 Stanley Cup run is entirely incorrect.<br /><br />It was pretty big in the news, everyone knows about it, so I don't know who you're trying to fool.Patrick Rosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04592482865332628189noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9149446.post-31755551045541632942011-06-16T15:25:10.724-06:002011-06-16T15:25:10.724-06:00The Black Bloc are not exactly some exclusive and ...The Black Bloc are not exactly some exclusive and distinct organization having no relation to the common anarchist in downtown riots. The simple ugly truth is that some 'hardcore riot instigators' are just the very same people. <br /><br />It's interesting to me that friends in Vancouver a full 3 days before the riots were telling me how they saw these kinds of people (they describe as those faux-hippie/anarchist/idiot types) wandering around the arena seemingly 'scoping out' the place and we said, not jokingly, they were, undoubtedly, trying to get their post-game riot plan in place.<br /><br />But look, all that aside, I have to correct something in this article: Edmonton did not have anything that qualifies as 'riots' and absolutely not even CLOSE to anything in Vancouver.<br />Realistically, Edmonton was excellent and I'm still amazed at the awesome community spirit post-game on Whyte Ave. Considering 10,000 drinkers and what a great friendly 'united' feeling! <br />At one time in one place a group of drunk idiots tried to start a bonfire and police quickly shut it down. For that matter the bonfire was a 'party' scene not a violence scene.<br />In fact, the vast majority of people on Whyte Ave that night never even saw that happen or even knew it happened until the next day news. <br />It was reported that somewhere off Whyte some stabbings happened. This was not 'riot stabbings'.<br />Unfortunately, like any big city, there are some seedy back alleys where, on any given weekend, some nasty people commit crimes. Sadly that happens every weekend in a big city and I'd argue there were LESS CRIMES on Whyte Ave that night with 10,000 fans than there would be otherwise on a typical night.<br />No comparison at all. And Edmonton did no 'soul searching' at all. In fact, the city was very well brought together and all things considered and given the fact 20 drunk idiots always do stupid shit - Edmonton was an amazing city with a wonderful community spirit and almost nothing went wrong.<br />*btw - the same party-hardy 20 or 30 Uni student morons try and light a bonfire every Summmer somewhere around UofA. They don't 'riot' but they do get promptly shut-down.Fraynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11053617236897320928noreply@blogger.com