Vancouver Photo of Kissing Couple Goes Viral, Doesn't Tell Whole Story
Vancouver Photo of Kissing Couple Goes Viral, Doesn't Tell Whole Story
Posted 06/17/2011 at 9:37am
| by Paul Lilly
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If you're a hockey fan, you either watched in euphoric excitement or nauseating horror as the Boston Bruins defeated the Vancouver Canucks in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals (this displaced Bostonian Editor falls into the former category). Showing the uglier side of sports, some disgruntled Vancouver 'fans' (a term we use loosely here -- Vancouver's real fans acknowledged a hard fought series and took the loss in bitter stride) took to rioting, and from the unfortunate scene a photo of what appears to be a kissing couple emerged and quickly went viral, only things are not as they appear.
The photo wasn't photoshopped, and there really was a young couple embraced on the ground amid the mayhem. But while it appears they're protesting the riots by making love, not war, the real story, according to bystanders, is that riot officers knocked the couple to the ground with the woman landing head first on the concrete, and her boyfriend thrown on top of her.
"The girl who was knocked over landed head first on the pavement with her boyfriend landing partially on top of her. She was in visible pain, crying, but the two officers gave them a parting shove and moved on," a witness, identifying himself as William, wrote to the Vancouver Sun, according to the U.K.'s Guardian. "Bystanders went to go make sure she was OK. I understand that the frontline police have to control the crowd but it is a bit ridiculous that they couldn't have other officers or paramedics behind the line to help anyone who is hurt."
The snapshot was taken by Canadian photographer Richard Lam, who was about 20 or 30 yards away. The photo then spread through cyberspace at a breakneck pace via social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter. Another less romantic-looking angle of the picture can be seen here.
And that, as Paul Harvey would say, is the rest of the story.
Image Credit: Richard Lam
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Silencer
June 18, 2011 at 7:01am
"..the real story, according to bystanders, is that riot officers knocked the couple to the ground with the woman landing head first on the concrete, and her boyfriend thrown on top of her."...
I don't wish to sound or be insensitive, but it was probably not without reason. I don't see the Canadian authorities generally acting like Nazis. Maybe they used slightly excessive force in this particular incident, but I seriously doubt anyone 'just hanging around' the riots, would be treated like this, right? Maybe that's what you get for being 'in' a riot. Next time, maybe avoid the riot area. Next... (Forgotten...)
RUSENSITIVESWEETNESS
June 18, 2011 at 5:07am
Personally, I'd have been all for shooting the rioters. Not all of them, just one every few seconds until the crowd realized they were going to die for a hockey game if they continued acting like animals. Nothing says "behave yourself" like a bullet to the head.
They were overturning and burning cars, beating people, looting and burning businesses. You don't tear gas that level of violence. You kill it.
Vernak
June 17, 2011 at 8:55pm
For those that dont know, understand, or care about hockey, Vancouver is generally upset about hockey because their team joined the NHL in 1970 and they have never won the Stanley Cup ever.
On top of that, this is the second time Vancouver failed to win the Stanley Cup in a game 7.
Higher on top of that, Vancouver actually made a run at it being the #1 seed in the league.
At the tippy top of that, this is their 40 year anniversary in the league.
monkiga, my hats off to you. Being a NYR fan, we were rooting for your team. Hopefully your team wont have to tie our 54 year pity party.
titan8813
June 17, 2011 at 11:20am
Because someone used a camera (Maximum Tech) and then it went "viral" (Maximum PC). Duh! :-P
smkoerner
June 17, 2011 at 10:51am
What does this have to do with PC's or anything that falls under the heading of Maximum PC?
level1paladin
June 17, 2011 at 10:37am
Freaking pigs. It's also not a Canadian or American thing or any specific country. Alcohol + people + emotions + mob mentality can = rioting over anything, anywhere in the world.
monkiga
June 17, 2011 at 10:34am
Too bad that ppl don't follow all the positive news after the riot...
http://canucks.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=566199&navid=DL|VAN|home
http://www.news1130.com/news/local/article/242253--vpd-cruiser-covered-with-notes-of-gratitude
Yes, I live in Vancouver and I'm proud of being a Canadian and a Canucks fan!!!
Balgaroo
June 17, 2011 at 10:26am
Rioting over hockey? Well I guess hockey fans are second in line behinde football (soccer) fans for being dumb asses.
Now to never come back to this page ever.
monkiga
June 17, 2011 at 10:38am
You really think they are hockey fan?! Next time I will ask them to pick a jersey from one of the team in MLB or NBA before they start a riot!!!
Caboose
June 20, 2011 at 8:16am
I'm in Edmonton, but these images of the riot after Vancouver lost make me ashamed right now to be Canadian. This is absolutely disgusting that people did this. Why? Its a goddamn hockey game, nothing more!
And yes, it was a small group that did this, but a city is judged based on its loudest group. And right now, and for a long time, Vancouver is going to be judged by this group.
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