From tear gas in Italy to apologies in Alberta.
Anti-G-8 summit protests on the first day of the gathering of world leaders here reflected a drastically different flavour than those held last year in Genoa, Italy, where a protester was gunned down by police.
Activists here led a peaceful snake march through the streets of downtown Calgary early Wednesday morning armed with nothing more than apples, oranges and bottled water.
As many as 2,000 protesters were expected; less than half actually showed up.
The impact of 800 people seizing the streets sent barely a tremor through the city, despite weeks of buildup about potentially violent demonstrations and severe traffic tie-ups.
Protesters even apologized for holding up rush-hour commuters for a few minutes at a time.
"Sorry for the inconvenience, but this is important for us to risk life and limb to get it to you!" said one pamphlet, given to those who kept car windows rolled down as marchers weaved their way through traffic.
The only tensions came later in the day, when a splinter group of about 250 anarchists squared off with police in a shoving match.
The anarchists, dressed in black and wearing bandannas on their faces, surrounded a McDonald's restaurant on Stephen Avenue Walk. Chanting "riot, riot," the group confronted about 25 police officers with mountain bikes, standing toe-to-toe with the police. After a tense 15 minutes, the police stood their bikes up on the rear tires, slowly edging the crowd back until it dispersed.
But police know they're not yet out of the woods.
"G-8 summit security remains at a high state of alert and we're still ready to respond to any eventuality," said Insp. Al Redford.
Activists started gathering as early as
4 a.m. at Fort Calgary, establishing ground rules early.
"Our intent is to stop and delay traffic, not to harm people or property," Gord Christie, of the Calgary and District Labour Council, told the crowd. "If you are going to engage in red activities, do so after 10 a.m.," he added, referring to direct-action tactics such as vandalism.
Some protesters blew bubbles while others beat on homemade drums fashioned from old water containers, plastic pipes and anything else that could keep a beat. And their messages were as varied as their clothing.
"Hey guys, let's go," said a man calling himself the Love Prophet.
Wearing a purple cape and hood, and carrying a Canadian flag, the Love Prophet protested the war on terrorism.
"They're criminals," he said, referring to the American government. "The Americans are bombing kids in Afghanistan so they can put in a pipeline."
A man and woman dressed completely in black under the hot sun of another 30 C day pushed a baby in a stroller, all their faces covered with black bandannas.
There were only minor traffic disruptions and while most stuck in rush-hour took it in stride, others weren't happy.
"This is pathetic," said Reid Olson as he waited in his locksmith van for about 15 minutes while the group played soccer in the streets. "If they are trying to get their message across to me and educate me, it's not working. All it is doing is making people mad. They should get out and get a job like the rest of us."
Although there were no serious confrontations along the way, it was clear some protesters were prepared -- and hoping -- for the worst.
"(Screw) being scared," one girl of about 18 told another, "there are people dying all over the world. What do you have to lose -- so what if we go to jail?"
After two hours of winding their way through the streets, the group split, with most gathering across from City Hall for a "die-in." There, protesters laid down in a solemn memorial to Italian protester Carlo Giuliani, who was killed by police during street riots in Genoa during last year's G-8 protest, and others killed because of policies endorsed by G-8 countries. Participants placed styrofoam tombstones with the G-8 logo around the plaza and then played dead at the stroke of noon -- until they were awakened by a bagpiped lament to the dead half an hour later.
Throughout the remainder of the afternoon, activists popped up at various locations but kept their protests peaceful, including those who knitted as a form of getting out their message.
Later in the afternoon, the on-again-off-again activist picnic at Riley Park went ahead. More than 800 sunbathers and shade seekers heard a three-song performance by longtime protester Bruce Cockburn.
"I'm going to play some old songs that are current again," Cockburn said. "They were written in response to the apathy that we still see today."
Police presence was minimal at the peaceful event. Downtown, busker Dan Duguay -- Dan the One Man Band -- said his street business was more brisk than usual. Protest organizers were pleased with Wednesday's turnout and said they are encouraged, but not surprised, by the lack of confrontations with police so far.
A Morning March
- About 400 G-8 protesters gather at Fort Calgary before setting off on a march about
7 a.m.
- The crowd moves northbound on 3rd Street S.E., onto westbound 4th Avenue S.E. Traffic is disrupted, particularly on the 4th Avenue flyover.
- Protesters, now numbering about 800, briefly sit down in the intersection of 4th Avenue and 1st Street S.E., bringing traffic to a standstill, before moving westbound on
4th Avenue.
- The crowd heads westbound on 3rd Avenue S.W. from 3rd Street. The march then snakes its way west on 3rd Avenue.
- Growing larger, the group heads westbound on 3rd
Avenue between 4th and 5th streets, then turns east on to 5th Avenue S.W. from
7th Street.
- Marchers then walk against the flow of traffic on
6th Avenue. Traffic is blocked at the intersection of 4th Street and 6th Avenue S.W.
- The protest stops outside City Hall on Macleod Trail. A number of activists sit down on the street, bringing northbound traffic to a standstill.
- After half an hour of sitting on the street, and a pagan prayer ritual outside City Hall, the activists -- now down to about 300 -- resume marching down Riverfront Avenue and Macleod Trail S.E.
- The crowd blocks the intersection of 6th Avenue and 1st Street S.W., causing traffic to back up for several blocks on 6th Avenue.
- Now split into two groups,
a hard-core group of about 200 anarchists block the intersection of 3rd Street and 9th Avenue S.W. by playing a game of soccer. The game lasts about half an hour, causing traffic chaos.
- The anarchists, more aggressive than those activists in the initial march, block a westbound C-Train at 3rd Street S.W. The train remains stalled for about 20 minutes.
- Moving on to Stephen Avenue, the group focuses its attention on a McDonald's restaurant. Police use their mountain bikes to circle the fast-food joint, as the anarchists stand toe-to-toe with officers, chanting, "Riot, riot." Police reinforcements are brought in.
- Activists disperse, some heading to Riley Park for a protest picnic, others to a "Die-In" at Olympic Plaza.
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