(This video dos a good job of capturing the intensity, though I'm glad to say our experience wasn't as long-term, and that eventually most of us were allowed to leave.)
It's taken me a long time to be put a name to this feeling... but it felt, I imagine, a lot like being part of a flock of sheep, as it is hunted by a pack of wolves.
We were unarmed and nonviolent (and intimidated, perhaps?), and they could pick us off at will. All that we could do is crowd closer to one another, and as far as we could from them. (Not that that would do much good – they could have had any of us anytime they wanted).
* * *
And so, what about being violent in self-defence? In a lot of ways, especially in retrospect, it felt wrong that when they violently attacked some of us, we did nothing.
We were sheep.
And the girl who stood beside me, who was violently arrested for peacfully protesting? Why should she be non-violent next time? She refused to be violent, in fact was a vocal part of a protest denouncing earlier violence, and she got beaten and arrested by the police. Next time why not throw rocks at windows, or even at the police?
What are they going to do, arrest her? Beat her up?
* * *
This is why the G20 "security" forces inability to discriminate is so stupid, purely from a tactical perspective. They treated nonviolent protestors, passerbys, reporters, etc. like criminals – even denying them many of the rights criminals get. That's a sure-fire way to radicalize thousands of people, and destroy their trust in police and the system of governance.
You set such a great example. You don't discriminate when fighting for your cause, so why should we?
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