Protesters, police clash at

Ontario legislature

WebPosted Thu Jun 15 19:50:00 2000

TORONTO - About 1,000 demonstrators

demanding the Ontario government do more

to help the homeless clashed with riot police

at the legislature Thursday afternoon.

Protesters threw

Molotov cocktails

and heavy rocks

from a garden as

police in riot gear,

some on

horseback,

charged repeatedly

to disperse the

angry crowd.

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A fire broke out on the steps of the legislature

as explosives were lobbed. Some protesters

were clubbed by police officers carrying

shields and batons. Others were hit with

bursts of pepper spray.

At least 20 people were injured, including 15

police officers, in the half-hour confrontation.

Authorities said 18 protesters were arrested.

Witnesses said violence erupted when some

protesters were turned back from the front

doors of the legislature.

A delegation of

anti-poverty groups

and homeless

advocates had

tried to get into the

chamber to talk to

politicians. After

police told them

they couldn't enter, the protesters returned to

the building's front steps.

Officers then started herding the crowd away

from the legislature, pushing protesters

towards a park where homeless people often

sleep.

About 50 police officers charged the crowd,

who responded by hurling rocks and other

objects. As police smashed demonstrators

with shields and clubs, some protesters

battled back with placards and their fists.

Toronto police

defended their

decision to use

force to disperse

the crowd. Officers

argued that it was

clear many of the

demonstrators

came looking for a

fight because they

arrived with helmets and gas masks.