Report from Ottawa
roving reporter | 27.06.2002 10:40
The weather seemed to mimick the mood of the protesters this morning in Ottawa. The smear campaign conducted by the Candian press in the last few weeks, combined with the 'warnings' by the police that they may not be able to 'tell a protester from a terrorist' had set a tense scene that the black clouds only intesified. But the rain, when it came, and it came in buckets, nor the heavy police presence dettered the two thousand or so that turned up today to 'Take the Capital'.
While the G8 met at their mountain retreat, the demonstrators began their snake march through the Canadian capital past the major symbols of capitalist exploitation. Protesters carried placards reading ' We Will Not be White-Maled' and ' Neoliberlism is a Trap'. The police were unable to surround the protesters as they have done at previous demonstrations. Banks were decorated with 'no dollar' signs and anti-capitalist slogans. Protesters cheered as passing motorists honked their horns in support.
In scenes resembling May Day 2002 in London, protesters were keen to keep walking to stall attempts by police to control the crowd. The march successfully made it all the way to the steps of the parliament building. At this point the sun finely pierced the crowds, the rain stopped and the protesters began to dry. Some stripped off completely. Others joined a chorus of voices 'G8 - shut it down, G8 - shut it down'.
Meanwhile a group of housing-activists had set up a squat just off from the city centre. Housing is a hot topic in Canada as the government has simply failed to build affordable housing for the poor while it continues to rip up old neighbourhoods and build new, expensive yuppy villas. The squat is a long-term project to provide a space for those in need of shelter as well as publicise the broader issue of the housing crisis. Reports that the police were aiming to make an early raid brought protesters from the parliament building to the squat to show their solidarity. This tactic seems to have worked as the police are now saying they will not evict.
The protests will continue this afternnon with a rally at the American embassy against the war and for the liberation of Palestine. Tommorrow an even bigger protest is planned, dubbed 'no one is illegal' in support of oppressed and marginalised people everywhere.
While the G8 met at their mountain retreat, the demonstrators began their snake march through the Canadian capital past the major symbols of capitalist exploitation. Protesters carried placards reading ' We Will Not be White-Maled' and ' Neoliberlism is a Trap'. The police were unable to surround the protesters as they have done at previous demonstrations. Banks were decorated with 'no dollar' signs and anti-capitalist slogans. Protesters cheered as passing motorists honked their horns in support.
In scenes resembling May Day 2002 in London, protesters were keen to keep walking to stall attempts by police to control the crowd. The march successfully made it all the way to the steps of the parliament building. At this point the sun finely pierced the crowds, the rain stopped and the protesters began to dry. Some stripped off completely. Others joined a chorus of voices 'G8 - shut it down, G8 - shut it down'.
Meanwhile a group of housing-activists had set up a squat just off from the city centre. Housing is a hot topic in Canada as the government has simply failed to build affordable housing for the poor while it continues to rip up old neighbourhoods and build new, expensive yuppy villas. The squat is a long-term project to provide a space for those in need of shelter as well as publicise the broader issue of the housing crisis. Reports that the police were aiming to make an early raid brought protesters from the parliament building to the squat to show their solidarity. This tactic seems to have worked as the police are now saying they will not evict.
The protests will continue this afternnon with a rally at the American embassy against the war and for the liberation of Palestine. Tommorrow an even bigger protest is planned, dubbed 'no one is illegal' in support of oppressed and marginalised people everywhere.
roving reporter