Police in riot gear lined the streets of the Group of 20 host city in an overwhelming show of force Friday as thousands of protesters chanted, waved signs and blew bubbles.
Unlike Thursday, when police tossed tear gas and fired rubber bullets to rout protesters who threw rocks and smashed store windows, Friday's "People's March" through the hilly streets of Pittsburgh produced no serious clashes.
The presence of hundreds of police sparked outrage among the demonstrators, who never got closer than half a mile to the G20 meeting site.
"We don't need the United Police States of America," said Cindy Sheehan, the antiwar advocate who famously protested outside former President George W. Bush's ranch in Texas. "I was telling the cops, 'You're facing the wrong way. Face the banks.'"
The patchwork group of demonstrators voiced their opinions on a myriad of issues, from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to workers' rights to the national debate on health care.
They chanted, "We all live in a fascist bully state" to the tune of the Beatles' "Yellow Submarine."
On Thursday, when demonstrators hit the streets without a permit, sparks flew. About 70 people were arrested and a slew of businesses were damaged.
Mike Nance, 28, a graduate student from Philadelphia, said he had no problem with so-called anarchists vandalizing businesses.
"I don't think property violence is particularly immoral," he said.
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/2009/09/26/2009-09-26_massive_police_presence_in_pittsburgh_takes_fight_out_of_protesters.html#ixzz0SEA6lpP0
Saturday, 26 September 2009
Massive police presence in Pittsburgh takes fight out of protesters Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/2009/09/26/2009-09-26_massive
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