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G20 Protests: Thousands Flood Into City of London
G20 summit protesters have clashed with police after crowds flooded into central London as world leaders prepare to discuss the global economic meltdown.
Eleven arrests were reported before a tense standoff developed between rows of police holding batons and a surging crowd close to the Bank of England.
One man, bleeding from the head, was repeatedly seen to apparently goad officers, who did not respond.
At one point, a black-clad masked man in the crowd struck an officer with a long pole. The officer was pulled away by colleagues and required treatment at the scene.
Crowds reacted to rumours of police movements in an attempt to avoid being encircled, causing more surges in large numbers of people.
Initially, police and journalists were in danger of outnumbering the protesters but, as the day has worn on, the crowds have thickened.
A diverse group of interests are represented by the protesters, who include those lobbying for action against the banks, greater protection of the environment or just downright anarchy, among several others.
One group, G20 Meltdown, planned four carnival parades into the heart of the financial district led by effigies of the "four horsemen of the apocalypse", representing war, climate chaos, financial crimes and land enclosures.
Hundreds gathered at London Bridge station for a march against financial crimes.
Two protesters climbed on to the plinth supporting Wellington's statue, sited opposite the entrance to the Bank of England, and unfurled a banner calling for action on homelessness.
Officers standing on the steps at the front of the Bank of England were pelted with fruit as protesters scrambled beneath them.
Several police helmets were also grabbed and thrown in the air as dozens of protesters surged forward and forced officers to retreat on to higher plinths at the base of the building.
A red smoke canister was set off, leaving at least one officer covered in bright red powder.
Roger Little, 27, an administration worker from Birmingham, said he travelled overnight with four friends to join the day of protest.
He said: "I am not a member of any of the groups represented today but I felt compelled to come down.
"We are going to march with a noisy protest in the middle of the City to show the people that are benefiting most from this system that we are not going to put up with it."
Jon Simmons, 31, a charity worker from Ealing, in west London, said he and several friends took the day off work to try to make their voices heard.
Mr Simmons, who was dressed in brightly-coloured military clothing, said: "I hope it will be a peaceful and relaxed day of protest with a lot of people coming together.
"Of the four horsemen of the apocalypse, we are the black horse, and we are supporting people who are landless and homeless."
Office workers looked down from upper-storey windows and waved cash at the demonstrators as the protest made its way down Old Broad Street.
The gesture was met with jeers and angry shouts from demonstrators.
Young and old joined in the demonstration and hundreds made their way slowly and peacefully towards the Bank of England.
Many protesters carried signs - most raising financial and climate change issues.
One sign read "Ice sheets melting, take action". Another said "Consumers suck" and another read "Carbon change too little too late".
There was a carnival atmosphere as marchers crossed London Bridge with numerous camera crews, photographers and reporters in tow.
Banners calling for an end to the war and effigies of hanged bankers were hoisted in the air as a brass band played a jaunty tune.
Malte Arhelger, who lives in Brussels, said he made the trip to the capital for two reasons - "Love and politics".
Standing with his girlfriend, he said: "Hopefully the march will be as peaceful as possible.
"The march on Saturday has shown it's possible to put important issues to the forefront without violence."
Mr Arhelger, who is German, stood with a banner proclaiming: "Make love not leverage."
His girlfriend, Eva Nilsson, 26, from Finland, who lives in Stepney Green, east London, said: "There are so many problems in the financial markets and now is the time, because of the G20, to build up pressure so that Government creates more regulations."
The procession progressed slowly across the bridge headed by a giant banner which read: "Capitalism isn't working."
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24 Comments so far
Show AllI am surprised and glad this was a very peaceful demonstration over all, considering the stakes.
The "Down with Consumers" sign was fun.
These demonstrators represent CHANGE, a new paradigm..
Snobama is gunning for Wall Street's worn out paradigm.
http://www.healingmagic.org/wbkm/TheWorldTurnedUpsideDown.mp3
What will it take to get Americans off the couch and into the streets?
... when the electricity goes off and we have to go foraging for dandelion greens for dinner and collect our water in a rain barrel ???
I've experienced all three, and it's not too bad if the weather is fairly warm and you live out in the country.
/cm
I'll have to get out my Euell Gibbons books, hmm "stalking the wild asparagus" where is it.
I'm not very sure that would even happen. For instance, in the HuffPo comments section I read inane comments that defend the banksters as if they were beleagured martyrs. I also read stupid "poor poor AIG" comments as well. At least these folks that are out on the streets of London get it. America is just too far behind.
Sooner or later Americans need to realize that Snobama's policies are not going to turn this depression around in months or even years. By pandering to the financial industry Obama has lost the little time he had to steady the ship.
Snobama will need to keep printing more greenbacks to distribute as unemployment benefits, etc. He knows that if it gets too bad for the unemployed, many will be camping out in DC this summer. Destitute Americans camping out in DC is not the kind of Change that would help his PR campaign.
erm, no hamburgers for sale?????????
When the neo-conservatives went ahead with their invasion plans after "their Pearl Harbor Type Attack", Donald Rumsfeld said, "As long as Americans have their baseball and football, we can do whatever we want." They did just that! They Lied enough times that the lie became the truth.
When people and reporters eyewitnessed and wanted to testify that they had heard and felt explosions in World Trade Center #7, the Neo-Conservatives and linked Conservatives called them all "Conspiracy Crazies" and Philip Zellikow, the Neo-Conservative Director of the 9/11 Commission, refused to allow anything that was not consistant with "The Official Version".
The Financial crisis was not just caused by bad mortgages. It was caused by thousands of greedy investment banks and brokers selling people, "You have to have at least 2 million dollars in your 401K to retire." They convinced investment managers to invest those millions in: stocks, companies, hedge funds, mutual funds, and gobs of other ventures. They took their 3 to 6% each quarter and kept selling worthless commodities..........Then, after they took out their trillions there was nothing left......All of them were just like Bernie Madoff......The only difference, Bernie was sending his money to Israel and "They" were sending their money to "Off-Shore Ghost Accounts" like Ken,Enron,Ley.
Tomorrow you will see a "Police State" control its masses......People, The Federal Reserve is a private bank that loans money to the U.S. Government and its network of friends......try "Nationalizing" that first......
what do you want? they did get off of the coach and elected Obama. All is good now. Dissent is racism.
they already are, tent cities are all over the place.
Americans think that if they wait long enough a Will Smith, or a Harrison Ford or a Matt damon will destroy the corruption from within the governmnet and set America back on course as a beacon of liberty and justice.
It happens in the movies all the time.
We're really waiting for rescue from our Canadian cousins! We need all the help we can get these days....even from the movies.
Probably never. They to prefer to gripe and predict the worst possible scenario.
You've been here long enough to know that.
If the posters here were right, the US should have invaded Iran in , when was it? Sept. last year? And Bush was going to declare martial law and cancel the elections.
CD should just merge it's forum with an Alex Jones forum these days.
Hardly a peaceful demonstration. What was peaceful was disrupted by the police who basically started to trap people. Freedom of movement was halted then repeatedly peaceful protestors were forced back by whacks from riot shields. The situation is ongoing, with 2ooo blocking the road in a climate camp. They are cooking vegan food, have a farmers market, a carnival atmosphere etc. They are now nearly surrounded by riot police. This is what happens when policing becomes political and you have a neo-con government in power. The range of the demo participants is extraordinary- new unemployed, radicals, pensioners, youth, environmentalists,also their numbers was way beyond the 5000 the police claim. As I said the situation is ongoing, but reading the daily telegraph will not keep you informed.
Thanks for the update.
The article "Breakiing the Bank" on the left side of the Common Dreams home page tells more.
"Office workers looked down from upper-storey windows and waved cash at the demonstrators as the protest made its way down Old Broad Street."
This makes me sick to my stomach.
Latest protest video:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/apr/02/g20-protests-man-dies-london
"Office workers looked down from upper-storey windows and waved cash at the demonstrators as the protest made its way down Old Broad Street."
Let's see how funny they think that was when it's time to go home.
Consumers suck, Capitalist Vipers swallow.
"Consumers Suck" has to be the dumbest protest sign I've ever seen. What exactly did the idiot think he was? He doesn't consume anything?
Yeah, yeah, I know what he was trying to say.....but think about it. Now do you know why the Right Wing is so sucessful. Idiots.
At least your "idiot" was out in the streets demonstrating while some of us were sitting on our fat asses criticizing him.
Actually "Consumer" is a bit of jargon invented by the capitalist class to redefine people who used to be considered Citizens. The fact that a person consumes, should not make his or her entire existence defined as "Consuming" for the convenience of the market.
The fact that some people are so unaware of this that they actually call themselves "Consumers" - sort of makes them suck for being such idiots.