Well, word broke last night that a resistance group is planning to march from Lawerenceville to the David L. Lawrence Convention Center on the first day of the meeting. This alone has a high probability to cause issue with police forces as the area around the David L. Lawrence convention center is marked as high security. I also think it’s fair to say that this has the potential for possible violence and issues occurring within the city during the summit.
Is it really any wonder as to why so many other cities rejected to have this meaning prior to us? The group, calling itself the Pittsburgh G-20 Resistance Project, is declaring a “People’s Uprising, a Sept. 24 mass march to disrupt the G-20 summit,” according to a statement on its Web site.
It’s stated in the Post Gazette this morning that group is:
likely to include a coalition of anarchists and other self-described “anti-authoritarians,” has called for a variety of “autonomous actions,” or efforts to attack various locations they view as symbols of global capitalism.
This is exactly what people have feared would bring to this summit. A statement made by a spokesperson from the group has stated;
“While protesters plan to march on the summit, the Pittsburgh police have made clear their intent to fulfill their historical role of protecting the interests of the rich and powerful over those of workers and the oppressed,”
The Pittsburgh Police then responded with the statement about their interests in all of these issues next week:
“If people are lawful there will be no law enforcement impact, However, if people are unlawful, arrests will be made. The Pittsburgh Bureau of Police will not deny anyone from exercising their first amendment right to free speech and lawful assembly, however we expect any assembly to be done in a peaceful and law-abiding manner.”
I fully expect there to be a certain issue with protesters and police as this event draws near. These type of people are “anti-establishment” and “anti-authority.” They also certainly deserve their right and freedom of speech. It’s certainly going to be interesting….
Thu, Sep 17, 2009
Daily, Events