Alan What I saw on TV were large numbers of policemen wading into small numbers of kids. The policemen were larger and more numerous than the kids. And they were armed with batons which they were lashing out expertly with at anyone within range. Are these what you meant by vicious thugs? Have you ever been on a demo that turned violent? I've been on several. And on every one, the police beat the crap out of the protesters. Violent thugs my backside. A bunch of kids trying, not very well, to make a point.