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FT: Thousands demonstrate ahead of G20 summit
By Daniel Pimlott in London and Chris Bryant in Berlin
The police were focusing their attentions on G20 summit protests expected later this week after tens of thousands demonstrators passed through the centre of London on Saturday without incident, defying fears of street battles.
However scenes in Berlin, where a largely good-spirited demonstration was marred when scores of protesters threw bottles and clashed with police, served as a reminder of the potential for violence.
About 35,000 protesters braved sleet and hail to take part in the London march, according to police, to promote the cause of “jobs, justice and climate” ahead of a meeting between the leaders of the G20 group of nations on Thursday to coordinate a response to the worst global economic crisis since the 1930s.
The Metropolitan police were out in force to guard against the risk of violence after officers had earlier warned of the “unprecedented’’ threat posed by the protests. Streets in central London were shut to accommodate the marchers, while the Ritz restaurant in Green Park had boarded up its windows in anticipation of attack.
But while news reports had suggested the event could dissolve into anarchy in an echo of the anti-globalisation Mayday protests earlier in the decade, only one man was arrested during Saturday’s march – for being drunk and disorderly.
The Put People First march included an alliance of 150 groups, including unions, charities, environmental and faith organisations, and more protests are expected on Wednesday in the City, and on Thursday at the summit itself.
A police spokesman said that officers were “fully mindful of the potential of large numbers of people” turning up on Wednesday and that the Metropolitan Police was “planning for that eventuality”. But he warned that “we will deal quickly and efficiently with any persons who use the peaceful protest to commit a criminal act.”
Simon Evans, a spokesman for Camp for Climate Action said that similar numbers to Saturday’s protest were expected on Wednesday at a number events planned across London.
Concerns that violence protests could emerge as a result of a anger over the economic crisis were heightened after the house and BMW car of Sir Fred Goodwin, the former chief executive of Royal Bank of Scotland, were attacked and vandalised last week.
In London, demonstrators had come from across the country to register their anger and to support an alternative future.
Bianca Jagger, the veteran protester and former wife of the Rolling Stones lead singer, summed up proceedings when she told the crowd gathered in Hyde Park: “I really admire your determination to come here in this terrible weather.”
Andrew Verrier, a 20 year old from Bromley who is unemployed and said he was struggling to find work said that the bailout for banks was unfair.“ Its stolen money and it doesn’t belong to them,” he said. “They get so much money a year, living in big houses and yachts – that’s not a job.”
He predicted that demonstrations later in the week could turn violent.“ Next week, that’s when its going to kick off,” he said.
Adam Shaw, a 36 year old life coach, had put on a Robin Hood outfit and come down from Hertfordshire to attend the march, and was joined by one friend dressed as Cruella da Ville and another dressed as a banker in a bowler hat. Mr Shaw said while the protest “focuses on the problem, we have come to focus on the solution – which is love.”
Paul Davis, 47, had come along to hand out leaflets and proselytize on behalf of the Communist League. “I’m here to meet revolutionary minded people. I want to convince people not to try and patch up capitalism,” he said. “What they call the banking crisis is really a symptom of a deeper problem.”
Thousands of people also took to the streets of Berlin and Frankfurt, to send a message to G20 organisers that “We will not pay for your crisis”. News wires reported that violence had marred the end of the parade in Berlin, and several activists were arrested.
A Porsche sports car parked on the parade route also appeared to have been attacked with paint stripper and scored repeatedly with house-keys, although it was unclear when the damage occurred.
Many ordinary members of the public took part, in particular students and pensioners. Police estimated the crowd at 15,000 in Berlin and 10,000 in Frankfurt, but organisers insisted a total of 55,000 took part in the German events.
Activists are next week expected to target the Nato-summit in Strasbourg, France and Kehl, Germany. Meanwhile, German trade unions are planning a big protest in May to coincide with a “Capitalism-Congress” in Berlin and students are preparing for a nationwide strike in June to campaign for greater investment in education.
“I think it’s clear to many people that thing are very serious now,” said Gisela Glattmann-Kieser, a retired pastor who took party in the Berlin-march. “Politicians don’t have the answer to this crisis.”
Source: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/43cdf50a-1bcb-11de-978e-00144feabdc0,dwp_uuid=70662e7c-3027-11da-ba9f-00000e2511c8.html?nclick_check=1