They say they're taking the capital from the capitalists, but G8 protesters will mostly be taking it away from residents.
At a news conference yesterday, Take The Capital organizers laid out their protest plans for June 26-27.
Although leaders from the G8 will gather in Kananaskis, Alta., protesters from across Ontario and Quebec are expected to descend on Ottawa.
Organizers said G8 leaders can "hide out" in the mountains, but the institutions they represent are less mobile.
"We are planning to take the capital from the capitalists," spokeswoman Lisa Freeman said yesterday. "The offices that write and enforce the policies are here."
POSSIBLE VIOLENCE
The Take the Capital group is planning gatherings and snake marches through the city. Organizers said groups are expected to disrupt organizations they say represent capitalism.
But things may go beyond disruption as organizers yesterday refused to condemn violence.
"We're not ... going to denounce our own people," said Jeremy Bell. "We respect the diversity of tactics."
What that range of tactics entails is not clear.
"That's up to the people who are coming to Ottawa to decide," said Amanda Dorter of the Guelph Action Network. "We can't speak for all individuals at the protest."
As for taking the community away from its residents, Freeman said that's the fault of police, not protesters.
Dorter said organizers are making their plans public to let residents know what will be going on and where, implying if they don't like it, they should stay away.
Unlike last fall, when G20 demonstration plans were shared with police, protesters are not talking this time. They said police broke their trust and used the information against them in the fall.
Ottawa police spokeswoman Staff Sgt. Monique Ackland said as long as marchers are peaceful, the police will facilitate their protests.
Police will use a "soft-hat approach" with many officers not wearing riot gear.
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