© Hamilton SpectatorThe group of masked protesters carried a banner that said "We Are The Ungovernables."
The group began setting off fireworks and smoke bombs, damaging vehicles and throwing eggs and rocks at store windows and homes in the neighbourhood.
Several storefronts had their windows smashed by the mob, and police say early estimates indicate about $100,000 in damage.
There were no injuries suffered by citizens or officers.
Insp. Paul Hamilton said police were initially called to a "mischief in progress" at Durand Park on Park Street South just before 10 p.m.
Two cops headed to the scene, where they found a large group dressed in black — a number of whom were wearing masks, he said.
"The officers approached the group and quickly had to retreat because they were being pelted with rocks," Hamilton said.
While the officers called for backup, the group dispersed, but a "large nucleus" of the group continued on, heading west toward Locke St. South and Aberdeen Ave., he said.
Carmela Oliverio was sitting with friends inside the Mattson and Co. restaurant on the corner of Locke and Alexander streets when she saw fireworks going off.
"All of a sudden I see 25 to 30 people dressed like ninjas coming down the street with this huge banner saying, 'We Are the Ungovernables' and with fireworks going off left, right and centre."
Comment: Interesting development, in that mindless Anarchist and Antifa-inspired mob violence usually comes in protest as a response to some kind of specific state-sponsored event or the hosting of some controversial speaker.
This time the black-clad, face-covered mob of over 30 abject cowards took to the streets of Hamilton to willfully damage private property without apparent cause or legitimate grievance.
Could this be a sign that we will be seeing more of this needless random violence in the future from these radical resentful pathetic excuses for human beings?
Time will tell.