its funny how the protesters go after business's like the hudson bay company but no protesters went after the churches ???? it was the christians and the church that forced the native to lose their culture and force them to be christians but you tree huggers aren't doing nothing against that... Nothing but a bunch of cowards there is no police brutality your a victim of your own mess.  A peaceful protest wouldn't have ended up this way ???  Grow up and realize you get out of life what you put into it.  nobody made people homeless or poor they simply can't get their shit together to make something out of their lives.

 uh...  doesn't shouting "who's streets? OUR streets" resolve to just the residents of Vancouver Proper? 

you know..  living in vancouver and all. 

I get the sinking feeling that a lot of kids from places that AREN'T from Vancouver are shouting that slogan. 

And it's underpaid workers who will be repairing the damages you have made! Privileged white kids freakin' out just for the sake of acting out a cool militant persona. Hatred with a peace sign, that's all very sad and non-constructive. You kids have way too much time on your hands. If you cared that much about the environment, you'd be picking up garbage right now instead of creating more garbage by destroying stuff.

"Maybe you need to get your shit together and pull your head out of your ass."

Lol... There's an educated reply...

The problem with homeless started long before the Olympic bid. Not saying the Olympics haven't greatly contributed... The problem with the homeless started when hospital such as Riverview were shut down. Smashing windows of the Bay isn't going to stop the Olympics. Why not instead, use the fact that the world is watching Vancouver right now? This is the ideal time to be voicing your concerns. There is a not so fine line between a protest and a riot. I feel bad for the thousands of people who have devoted themselves to their cause for 7 years now. A small group of people have really made the 'protesters' (as a general term) look like a bunch of uncivilized idiots. And masks?? Don't be cowards. Whether this was to conceal identity or as a form of intimidation... cowardly.

I have my issues with the Olympics as well. But as the bad comes with the good, the good comes with the bad. They money has been spent, and quite honestly, that money never would've been put into health care or housing. Not right. Not right at all. However it's here. Use it. Don't make yourselves look foolish. Don't attack the innocence. My generation has such fond childhood memories of Expo. This is essentially the same thing. A big waste of money. However, it brings people together. For 2 weeks we all come together for a cause that is our country. For two weeks the anthem brings tears to eyes. For 2 weeks people dance in the streets and smile at everyone else wearing their countries colors. I support the fact that there shouldn't be a billion dollar price tag on patriotism, but I also should be allowed to walk my 2 and 4 year old down the streets of Vancouver without them being traumatized and masked people shouting and throwing rocks through windows. That is not standing up for anyone. And when your concern is police brutality I will laugh. When I'm standing there with my children and that runs past me, as a WORKING tax payer, I would be making sure that the police are there to carry you away. And really, isn't that what you want? I'm laughing at the number of facebook profile photos of individuals fighting with police there are right now. What do you expect? Put your child as an innocent bystander and see if you agree that you idiots should be let run around, passing yourselves off as anarchists. 

I do my part to help. I am currently working on starting a project to help prostitutes in my community get themselves cleaned up and safe. Use your brains. If you're out for the sake of running around and causing problems for yourself and everyone then you're doing a great job. If you want to be respected and heard then join the peaceful protesters rather than giving them and your cause a bad name. 

 Native people have the right to free education as per their treaty rights, if they choose not to get a education and fall into the stereo type that is there own problem.  The olympics have created a huge amount of employment and not to mention all the revenue that the province is bringing in.  Having a protest and destroying public property is not the answer.  If you people were really standing up for your cause why did you run when the police came ??

  A real person that totally stands behind what they are doing will give their life to stand up for what they believe in and not run like cowards when things get heated.  Your not being a voice to be heard your just a bunch of crybabies that still live in your parents basement in the suburbs crying on how hard you got cause your parents won't buy you a bmw and your too lazy to get a job.

As someone who fully supports the protesters, how do I argue against others who condemn the untargeted property damage. Also it has been said that covering faces as the protesters all in black have done can be seen as cowardly. I am trying to defend these actions to people who would otherwise fully support protesters.

Their points:

1) why hide your identity, what do you fear?

2) by hiding your faces you are inviting "undercover" cops to join in and make the protesters look bad  - it makes it so much easier for them to pretend they are protesters as they can't be identified by the public who might otherwise recognize them?

2) by damaging property (ie painting on cars) and smashing windows you are basically giving the billion dollar security forces an excuse to clamp down

3)the world is watching and that's all they see.

I myself have pointed out that most of the mainstream media reports I have seen have distinguished between the peaceful protesters and the "black block" anarchists who have been blamed for the window smashing and more "violent" actions against property. (And no, violence does not have to refer to only violence against people.) But these folks do not agree and think that the world is just seeing ANARCHISTS SMASH SHIT AND MAKE BABIES CRY

Keep up the good work - but try and remember that people want to understand the protesters and seem pretty willing to support the idea of protests - they just can't support any unecessary provacation of the massive security forces. That is - smashing the Bay's windows pretty much guarnateed they were going to bring in the big guns. Why not try blocking streets without giving them any other reason to shut you down?