Protesters crash the G-20 summit
More than 4,000 protesters descended on London and laid seige to the Bank of England headquarters.
By Ben Quinn | Correspondent 04.01.09
LONDON – Faced with a determined Franco-German effort to stamp their mark on tomorrow’s Group of 20 summit in London, the last thing US President Barack Obama and his British opposite number needed was gatecrashers.
It was probably just as well, then, that British police swiftly arrested 11 anarchists in a fully equipped armored car this morning as the “day of action” threatened by thousands of protesters arrived.
Earlier in the morning, the full pomp of what Winston Churchill called “the special relationship” was on full display at 10 Downing Street during a joint press conference where Mr. Obama and Britain’s prime minister, Gordon Brown, were surrounded by their countries’ flags.
“The United States is committed to working alongside the United Kingdom in doing whatever it takes to stimulate growth and demand and to ensure that a crisis like this never happens again,” said President Obama, as the two leaders urged united action among G-20 leaders tomorrow.
But only about half an hour’s walk from Downing Street, action of a very different kind was underway as more than 4,000 protesters from a disparate alliance of activists campaigning on issues ranging from climate change to global poverty laid siege to the headquarters of the Bank of England.
Initially, a carnival-like atmosphere reigned, with mobile speakers blaring the voice of Bob Marley singing “Stand up for your rights” and a lone Scottish bagpiper serenading the mainly youthful crowds.
The mood turned ugly around lunchtime, however, as small groups of black-clad and masked youths began trading blows with baton-wielding police.
Nearby, a small number of protesters succeeded in breaking into the city center headquarters of the Royal Bank of Scotland, a beneficiary of one of the British government’s banking bailouts.
“We are here because it gives us a sense of empowerment and because we think that the cause of the financial crisis is the system itself,” said Kristen Forkert, a London-based Canadian student standing outside the Bank of England and holding a pillow aloft bearing the slogan “People Not Property.”
“I am not hopeful about what the G20 will do tomorrow. What we need is an end to neo-liberalism, not more bailouts.”
While anger rises on the streets of London, this evening the queen will meet with President Obama and other G20 leaders as she hosts an elegant reception in their honor.
For sure, this is a tale of two summits.
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2. Shelley | 04.01.09
They didn’t ’swiftly arrest’ the anarchists - they let them go as they hadn’t done anything illegal. Check the BBC website to confirm.
3. Cwindor | 04.01.09
I’m shocked the police haven’t joined them yet. The corrupt financial dealings of the ruling international bankers are threatening the families of police just as much as non-police.
5. Nigel | 04.01.09
It wasn’t “the city center headquarters of the Royal Bank of Scotland” that was damaged by protesters. It was an ordinary branch office, which happened to be next to the Bank of England. The main London office of RBS is in Bishopsgare, half a mile away. And in any case, the HQ of RBS is in Edinburgh anyway,
7. David | 04.02.09
Most of these protesters you see on TV are not even protesters. If you watch and listen to what the news persons are saying and what is actualy going on in the back ground are two different things. Looks like most are there just to party and have know real reason for being there or what the G20 summit is. I take this as a bunch of college kids that just wanted to skip class or not go to work this week. They make their selves look ridiculus.
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1. Tiffany M. | 04.01.09
What we need is to educate people about the greatness of Freedom. IF the government would just allow Capitalism to work and let those that let greed take over, which can be anything from poor business models, practices and even employment led unions (such as the case with GM) fail then we will all be better off. Allow new and better entrepreneurship to florish so that we can move our countries towards the future. The capitalist’s are on the side of the protestors. We do not believe in corrupt government practices (those that are beyond their duties as guidelined in the constitution), we do not believe that the US members of Congress should have received bonuses for their horrible records, and we certainly do not believe that the corporate elite at companies such as AIG should have accepted Government allowed bonuses.