I think what we are seeing with all of this is a bubbling hatred of both sides..... finally meeting.
The passionate protestors who lets face it 'hate the police' and use the G20 as a forum to vent those deep running feelings - 'face to face' with a silenced stranger in uniform.
YOU ARE A **** **** ****.....repeatedly shouted at you!
The TSG police who are trained to 'challenge' violence, not to be shrinking violets. Verbal abuse is difficult for a baton wielding armour clad policeman to take...personal traits take over and boom...flashpoint.
Now it's not right...but we sofa politicians should STOP and think....would I want to do that?
Should we all be so shocked that this sort of thing has happened?
If I ever found myself as a protester at the front of an angry mob, facing the riot police....would I be shocked to receive anything less than a slap or a stick around my ankles??
Of course not...and I am sure that the vast majority of people in the UK feel the same.
As a paramedic who has been assaulted twice myself ( and I'm a big bloke), funny how I didn't receive ANY support when I was clocked.
Now....I ask you....if I thumped the thugs...I really wonder what would have happened!!!!?