Saturday, September 26, 2009
Thousands march without violence through Downtown
ShareThis
By The Tribune-Review
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Wearing a Pirates' ballcap, Bob Ross of Lawrenceville eyed the phalanx of riot police and officers on horseback who surrounded the crowd Friday in front of the City-County Building, Downtown.
His sign said "Yinz live in a police state." He said he opposed the Group of 20 world leaders meeting at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.
"But I can't blame the G-20 for the Pirates," he said. "I blame the owners."
The big demonstration on the final day of the economic summit brought thousands of protesters with countless causes. They walked from Oakland through Downtown to the North Side in a peaceful march that ended with three arrests.
Hours later, police clashed with protesters in Oakland, where more than 60 people were arrested during violent demonstrations the night before.
Hundreds of people gathered in Schenley Park last night in a protest against what they called police brutality. It was unclear how many were protestors and how many were onlookers from the University of Pittsburgh.
Police fired at least one can of OC vapor -- similar to pepper spray -- just before 11 p.m. near the intersection of Forbes Avenue and Bigelow Boulevard to help break up the crowd.
"This is a rally against police brutality," said Tom Judd, 24, of Rhode Island. "The police were very aggressive here (Thursday)."
Judd, a member of the Students for a Democratic Society, said he's been to numerous demonstrations and protests and has never seen "as heavy of a police presence as this. But the people of Pittsburgh have been really nice."
Hundreds of police dressed in riot gear lined the park shoulder-to-shoulder and assembled along Forbes Avenue before ordering the crowd to disperse.
Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, who returned to his city hall office after spending the day with public safety officials Downtown watching the afternoon march, credited organizers for its smooth execution.
"To all the critics who suggested democracy is dead in Pittsburgh, we showed them it's not. We held onto our promise," Ravenstahl said.
Last night, city Public Safety Director Mike Huss said police arrested 83 people for G-20-related protests and estimated $50,000 worth of damage. Police attributed $20,000 of the damage to David Japenga, 20, of California, who is facing one felony and two misdemeanor charges.
Huss said all Downtown barricades and fences would be gone by tonight.
"It's been a long week and a lot of preparation, but the results are there," Huss said. "It's a proud day to be a Pittsburgher."
Police Chief Nate Harper said he would like to host another event like the G-20. "We're prepared to," he said. "Yes, if the opportunity arises."
Organizers of the People's March to the G-20 got permits for their rallies in Oakland and Downtown and attracted protesters from around the country.
"We want (German Chancellor Angela) Merkel and (President) Obama to step down and join the rest of the world in moving toward climate control," Sam Daly, 23, of Washington, D.C., said as he marched on Forbes Avenue in Oakland.
"I came here to end the war," said Sam Cross, a retired surgeon from Ford City. "I don't agree with much of what the speakers have been saying today, but I'm against the G-20, the international bankers and these wasteful wars."
Organizer Pete Shell said he was pleased "nothing major" snagged the march. During his address at the City-County Building, Shell said authorities cracked down this week on legal, peaceful demonstrations.
Yesterday's demonstration became the "People's March" only "because we fought for it," he said. Protest groups took the city to federal court before the summit to fight for march permits.
East Liberty environmental activist Casey Capitolo said that in the future, peaceful protest groups seeking permits will go to court earlier.
"We should, and we will, go to court and not to the Pittsburgh police's permit police," she said. "Next time will be different."
City leaders and police officials brought in thousands of extra officers and National Guard troops to protect the city during what federal officials dubbed a National Security Special Event.
"They had the opportunity to express their First Amendment rights and we had the opportunity to keep them safe while they did," city police Assistant Chief William Bochter said.
The march started before noon in Oakland as protesters walked to a rally outside Carlow University.
"We're dying for profits," said James Sims, 48, of Greensburg, one of dozens of members of Iraq Veterans Against the War who organized in front of Soldiers & Sailors Military Museum and Memorial. "Most Americans don't see that. Now they broke Iraq, and nobody wants to pay for it."
"I came to support our rights," said Rob Breen, 22, of the North Side, who walked with his dog, Mr. Gonzo. "This Group of 20 is meeting in secret and setting economic goals and strategies that affect us all, yet we play no role in the matter."
After hearing speakers and singers from the Raging Grannies, United Steelworkers of America and Free Tibet, marchers headed Downtown. Some in the crowd wanted more jobs for the poor. Others called for the end of war, and a few asked for the legalization of marijuana.
"Our purpose is to focus on the needs of the victims of the economic collapse," said Dee Smith, an organizer from New York City, who was among 100 people who joined the march from a rally at Freedom Corner in the Hill District. "The focus of the leaders of the G-20 has been bailing out the banks. They haven't put any money toward fixing foreclosures, joblessness or health care."
Police in riot gear lined the entire route. Downtown, sightseers snapped photos. One man yelled "Anarchist scum!" when the masked group walked by hoisting black flags.
A man who identified himself as Vermine Supreme, 50, of Baltimore shouted at police. "I know you are naked under your riot gear," he said, and then quoted passages from a military field manual about crowd control.
Some protesters chanted to police: "You're sexy. You're cute. Take off the riot suits."
Near the Macy's department store on Smithfield Street, protesters tossed fake green $100 bills inked in red -- they called it "proletarian ticker tape" -- toward shoppers.
Beverly Gaddy of Squirrel Hill marched while holding the hand of her daughter Helen Franz, 6, who wore a bandanna across her face.
"I'm well aware of the risks of having her here," Gaddy said. "We were in Lawrenceville yesterday. That's why she's wearing the bandanna today. She was told in school that police are your friends. She's scared of police now."
Speakers at the City-County Building challenged the crowd to stand up against oppression. Kate Goff, an organizer with Students for a Democratic Society, asked why students weren't "burning recruiting stations and smashing banks' windows every day until we depose institutions like the G-20."
"We have a responsibility to bury a system that's burying the people we love," Cheri Honkala, a Philadelphia activist with the People's Economic Human Rights Campaign, said in a fiery speech centered on eliminating poverty and implementing single-payer health care.
The crowd crossed the Warhol Bridge to East Park in the North Side, where activist Cindy Sheehan addressed the group.
"I was telling the cops, 'You're facing the wrong way,'" said Sheehan, an anti-war protester who gained notoriety for camping near then-President George W. Bush's Texas ranch after her son was killed in Iraq. "The wars were wrong under Bush, and they're still wrong under Obama."
A small group of people later went to the Allegheny County Jail to hold a vigil for incarcerated protesters. A jail official said eight demonstrators arrested Thursday remained in the lockup.
Vic Walczak, a lawyer with the American Civil Liberties Union, said the group provided legal observers at the protests but was not representing any of those arrested.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Wearing a Pirates' ballcap, Bob Ross of Lawrenceville eyed the phalanx of riot police and officers on horseback who surrounded the crowd Friday in front of the City-County Building, Downtown.
His sign said "Yinz live in a police state." He said he opposed the Group of 20 world leaders meeting at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.
"But I can't blame the G-20 for the Pirates," he said. "I blame the owners."
The big demonstration on the final day of the economic summit brought thousands of protesters with countless causes. They walked from Oakland through Downtown to the North Side in a peaceful march that ended with three arrests.
Hours later, police clashed with protesters in Oakland, where more than 60 people were arrested during violent demonstrations the night before.
Hundreds of people gathered in Schenley Park last night in a protest against what they called police brutality. It was unclear how many were protestors and how many were onlookers from the University of Pittsburgh.
Police fired at least one can of OC vapor -- similar to pepper spray -- just before 11 p.m. near the intersection of Forbes Avenue and Bigelow Boulevard to help break up the crowd.
"This is a rally against police brutality," said Tom Judd, 24, of Rhode Island. "The police were very aggressive here (Thursday)."
Judd, a member of the Students for a Democratic Society, said he's been to numerous demonstrations and protests and has never seen "as heavy of a police presence as this. But the people of Pittsburgh have been really nice."
Hundreds of police dressed in riot gear lined the park shoulder-to-shoulder and assembled along Forbes Avenue before ordering the crowd to disperse.
Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, who returned to his city hall office after spending the day with public safety officials Downtown watching the afternoon march, credited organizers for its smooth execution.
"To all the critics who suggested democracy is dead in Pittsburgh, we showed them it's not. We held onto our promise," Ravenstahl said.
Last night, city Public Safety Director Mike Huss said police arrested 83 people for G-20-related protests and estimated $50,000 worth of damage. Police attributed $20,000 of the damage to David Japenga, 20, of California, who is facing one felony and two misdemeanor charges.
Huss said all Downtown barricades and fences would be gone by tonight.
"It's been a long week and a lot of preparation, but the results are there," Huss said. "It's a proud day to be a Pittsburgher."
Police Chief Nate Harper said he would like to host another event like the G-20. "We're prepared to," he said. "Yes, if the opportunity arises."
Organizers of the People's March to the G-20 got permits for their rallies in Oakland and Downtown and attracted protesters from around the country.
"We want (German Chancellor Angela) Merkel and (President) Obama to step down and join the rest of the world in moving toward climate control," Sam Daly, 23, of Washington, D.C., said as he marched on Forbes Avenue in Oakland.
"I came here to end the war," said Sam Cross, a retired surgeon from Ford City. "I don't agree with much of what the speakers have been saying today, but I'm against the G-20, the international bankers and these wasteful wars."
Organizer Pete Shell said he was pleased "nothing major" snagged the march. During his address at the City-County Building, Shell said authorities cracked down this week on legal, peaceful demonstrations.
Yesterday's demonstration became the "People's March" only "because we fought for it," he said. Protest groups took the city to federal court before the summit to fight for march permits.
East Liberty environmental activist Casey Capitolo said that in the future, peaceful protest groups seeking permits will go to court earlier.
"We should, and we will, go to court and not to the Pittsburgh police's permit police," she said. "Next time will be different."
City leaders and police officials brought in thousands of extra officers and National Guard troops to protect the city during what federal officials dubbed a National Security Special Event.
"They had the opportunity to express their First Amendment rights and we had the opportunity to keep them safe while they did," city police Assistant Chief William Bochter said.
The march started before noon in Oakland as protesters walked to a rally outside Carlow University.
"We're dying for profits," said James Sims, 48, of Greensburg, one of dozens of members of Iraq Veterans Against the War who organized in front of Soldiers & Sailors Military Museum and Memorial. "Most Americans don't see that. Now they broke Iraq, and nobody wants to pay for it."
"I came to support our rights," said Rob Breen, 22, of the North Side, who walked with his dog, Mr. Gonzo. "This Group of 20 is meeting in secret and setting economic goals and strategies that affect us all, yet we play no role in the matter."
After hearing speakers and singers from the Raging Grannies, United Steelworkers of America and Free Tibet, marchers headed Downtown. Some in the crowd wanted more jobs for the poor. Others called for the end of war, and a few asked for the legalization of marijuana.
"Our purpose is to focus on the needs of the victims of the economic collapse," said Dee Smith, an organizer from New York City, who was among 100 people who joined the march from a rally at Freedom Corner in the Hill District. "The focus of the leaders of the G-20 has been bailing out the banks. They haven't put any money toward fixing foreclosures, joblessness or health care."
Police in riot gear lined the entire route. Downtown, sightseers snapped photos. One man yelled "Anarchist scum!" when the masked group walked by hoisting black flags.
A man who identified himself as Vermine Supreme, 50, of Baltimore shouted at police. "I know you are naked under your riot gear," he said, and then quoted passages from a military field manual about crowd control.
Some protesters chanted to police: "You're sexy. You're cute. Take off the riot suits."
Near the Macy's department store on Smithfield Street, protesters tossed fake green $100 bills inked in red -- they called it "proletarian ticker tape" -- toward shoppers.
Beverly Gaddy of Squirrel Hill marched while holding the hand of her daughter Helen Franz, 6, who wore a bandanna across her face.
"I'm well aware of the risks of having her here," Gaddy said. "We were in Lawrenceville yesterday. That's why she's wearing the bandanna today. She was told in school that police are your friends. She's scared of police now."
Speakers at the City-County Building challenged the crowd to stand up against oppression. Kate Goff, an organizer with Students for a Democratic Society, asked why students weren't "burning recruiting stations and smashing banks' windows every day until we depose institutions like the G-20."
"We have a responsibility to bury a system that's burying the people we love," Cheri Honkala, a Philadelphia activist with the People's Economic Human Rights Campaign, said in a fiery speech centered on eliminating poverty and implementing single-payer health care.
The crowd crossed the Warhol Bridge to East Park in the North Side, where activist Cindy Sheehan addressed the group.
"I was telling the cops, 'You're facing the wrong way,'" said Sheehan, an anti-war protester who gained notoriety for camping near then-President George W. Bush's Texas ranch after her son was killed in Iraq. "The wars were wrong under Bush, and they're still wrong under Obama."
A small group of people later went to the Allegheny County Jail to hold a vigil for incarcerated protesters. A jail official said eight demonstrators arrested Thursday remained in the lockup.
Vic Walczak, a lawyer with the American Civil Liberties Union, said the group provided legal observers at the protests but was not representing any of those arrested.
Labels: Cheri Honkala, G20
Subscribe to Posts [Atom]