Conference kaosws::canada

837.0. "The Riots in Vancouver" by CGOOA::RATHNOW (Eat right, stay fit, die anyway...) Thu Jun 16 1994 13:02

    Well by now I'm sure you have all heard about the riots in our humble
    city.  Or have you?

    After the Canucks defeat, a few thousand fans poured into the streets
    of downtown Vancouver to drown their soroes.  Things got a little out
    of hand and all hell broke loose resulting in a scene you'ld expect to
    see in South Africa before apparthite was abolished.

    The description of the events that lead up to the riot differ depending
    on who you talk to.  The police, naturally, have said it was started by
    some roudies throwing beer bottles and rocks at police which inticed the
    rest of the crowd to join in.  The police have been praised by lots of 
    people for the way they handled the affair...but most of these people
    where at home watching the late night news or sulking over the loss.

    The story told by people who where there is quite different. One of my
    wife's class mates had two sisters that were there and they both have
    stories of panicking police officers throwing tear gas into crowds of
    people who were doing nothing but standing around watching. Innocent
    by-standers were being attacked and bitten by police dogs.  At the
    height of confusion, people were trying to get away from the police,
    dogs and tear gas by going into restaraunts and shops.  The police were
    coming in after them, hauling them out of their seats, dragging them
    out and beating them.  One friends fell as the police pushed into the
    crowd and was rewarded with a few good wackes to the knees.

    This is a real black mark for a city known for its calm, laid-back life
    style.  But the blame does not lie in soley in the hands of the people. 
    The Vancouver police were inexperienced and ill-prepaired to deal with
    this type of situation, and they showed it.

    Cheers,
    Dave.

    That wasn't a riot.
    
    Wait until Detroit wins the CUP next year....then you'll see a real
    riot!
    
    pete ;-)

    Well, guess Montreal doesn't have the lead in lawlessness anymore.

    Good thing Vancouver didn't win the cup, it could have been worse.

    Glenn

    Guess what they've bantered about Vancouver wasn't right after all.

If Detroit ever won the cup they would burn the city to the ground.