Anti fat-cat sentiment is targeting the G20 Summit in London, April 2, 2009. At least 80 groups have registered to participate in protests leading up to it. This article comes via anthropologie du présent, where there are numerous other articles covering different angles of the planned protests:
London Braces For Massive Protests Of G-20 Meeting
From Free Internet Press, reprinted from Spiegel
by Carsten Volkery reporting from London, England
March 27, 2009
London is bracing itself for the G-20 meeting next week, as thousands of demonstrators prepare to descend upon the British capital. While most protesters will be peaceful, those working in the financial industry are being advised not to wear suits to work or even to stay at home to avoid potential violence.
Mirina Pepper has just been panhandled by a homeless man near London”s Liverpool Street Station. She reaches into her handbag and grabs a bundle of £20 notes. “Here, you can give them out,” she says. The homeless man looks perplexed at the notes, not knowing whether he should take this as a good or bad thing.
It”s funny money with the words “G-20 Meltdown” printed on it. They”re flyers for a “Party in the City.” Pepper gets the homeless man to agree to come the event next Wednesday and to bring along as many of his buddies as he can. Another homeless man just a few meters away experiences the same fate.
Pepper, 41, is responsible for organizing “G-20 Meltdown,” a coalition of groups that plan to protest against the London financial summit next week that has even earned the respect of Scotland Yard. “They have some very clever people and their intention on April 1 is to stop the City,” Commander Bob Broadhurst of the Metropolitan Police said last week. “They are innovative and we have to be innovative, too.” Continue reading “London Braces for Massive Protests of G-20 Meeting”
