June 15 2011 Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
The video will show you how the riots started. I went downtown to film just incase a riot broke out. I started filming on Granville St. The first thing I noticed was the crowd was very drunk and everyone was yelling fuck boston, I heard this repeated so several times, It was clear to me at that moment something might happen. I walked towards the Vancouver public library. I found some police officers arresting some people and putting them into the paddy wagon. I then I noticed people running from the opposite side of the Vancouver library, they informed me there was a riot breaking out and a on Georgia St just west of Seymour St. So I made my way over to the location. I could also here over the police scanner several small fires were breaking out throughout the city. I went up to a police officer and asked him, do they have enough officers if the crowd gets out of control. He said we have lots of officers all around the event. So I started walking. I could here people were yelling set it on fire. I continued walking as I past The CBC TV station. I noticed a fire truck with a large group of people standing around a vehicle on Georgia St. Vancouver Police had created a circle around the pickup truck to prevent the crowd from causing further damage to it. At this point there was thousands of people all gathered on Georgia St & Cambie St. Some people in the crowd started throwing objects at police. Then all the police officers walked away from the pickup, The crowd started chanting we want the truck, we want the truck. @ 50:30 I think the crowd thought it was ok to start vandalizing the truck because police walked away from protecting the vehicle. The crowd moved in and started vandalizing the pickup truck and jumping all over it. @ 52:00 The crowd flipped the vehicle over onto its side. Now the crowed was getting wound up and exited many patrons started destroying the vehicle. At 54:08 Is the point when several individuals set a jacket on fire, then walked to where the gas was leaking from the vehicle and set it on fire. The police moved in and started to disperse the crowd from around the vehicle that was on fire. The police Emergency response Teams started moving and informing people to disperse.The crowd responded by throwing things at the police. @ 1:23:30 The Vancouver Police started informing people if they didn’t leave the area within ten minutes or they would be arrested. @1:24:15 Police informed the crowds that this has become an unlawful assembly and to leave the area in a peaceful manner. @ 2:11:00 I approached the Hudson’s Bay store on Seymour St. A large The fire can be seen coming from the store, rioters are entering the store and looting merchandise. The police are setup up just down the street at Seymour St & Georgia St. Police are firing pepper spray grenades into the crowd, but it is having no effect. The fire department is unable to move in to put the fire out because of the hostile crowds. This was a very sad night for Vancouver. I could not believe what was unfolding in front of my eyes. I was in a state of shocked when it was all over. In Fact I couldn’t even remember where my vehicle was parked. I must have walked around the city for over an hour before finally finding it. Then came the second shock both my side mirrors were broken. What a night what a day, hope i never have to film something like this again.
