RAIN-DRENCHED activists caused minimal havoc yesterday as they snake-marched through the downtown core, protesting capitalism, military action -- and even clothing.
About 10 protesters stripped down to their boots and lit up joints on Parliament Hill after the noisy, but not-too-militant, two-hour rally through the city.
"Down with clothing!" hollered one activist who bared his private parts but wouldn't disclose his real name. "It's about liberty. We're all free and there's no shame in being naked."
The first march left Dundonald Park in the early afternoon and meandered through the city's core with beating drums and chants of "Down with G8!" and "Stop the war on the poor!"
Police allowed the group liberal access to the streets on their spontaneous route. Back-up riot squads were on alert, but didn't have a visible presence. Police estimate 3,000-4,000 students, union members and other protesters took part in the demonstrations.
'ISOLATED INCIDENTS'
"The majority of the demonstrators have been peaceful and lawful, however there have been a few isolated incidents," said Ottawa police Staff Sgt. Monique Ackland.
Traffic was snarled and buses were rerouted, but property damage was minimal. The window of a Canada Trust TD Bank on Elgin St. was smashed with paint balls and a glass juice jar, four police cruisers were damaged, and various buildings, including the Bank of Canada and the Parliament buildings, were covered with spray paint and chalk slogans.
"I think that it's foolish to resort to violence in order to advance a movement," said protester Oliver Davies, who criticized a fellow activist for smashing a police car window. "It's hypocritical for us to complain about police brutality."
Only one protester was arrested -- after a police officer was pulled from his bicycle while trying to arrest another protester who had violated his probation conditions -- and will be charged with assaulting a police officer. The officer required stitches to close a cut on his leg.
Activists claimed squatters' rights at a three-storey residential building on Gilmour St. to highlight the crisis in affordable housing. Police said they would not force them out of the building, which is for sale, unless it is damaged.
Some office workers and pedestrians paused to watch the colourful street spectacle, and many motorists honked horns in support. Others were unimpressed, yelling out slurs such as "Paranoid!" and "Get a life!"
Many protesters wore hats, bandannas and balaclavas to shield their identity, while others complained that police officers were not wearing identification. Legal observers and protest witnesses mingled among police to survey events, which were deemed a relative success by all accounts.
BUSH BURNED IN EFFIGY
"They marched around, they chanted their message out and at the end of the day we had some vehicle damage and spray paint, but no violence," said RCMP Sgt. Marc Richer.
Later in the day, a group of anarchists and communists marched from Sandy Hill to meet the main crowd at the U.S. embassy on Sussex Dr., where they burned an effigy of U.S. President George W. Bush. "Here lies the enemy (sic)!" was written in chalk beside the charred doll.
"The U.S. is the leader of imperialism and war," said Natasha Roy of Montreal. "They cause struggles and hardships around the world and many people die every day because of the U.S. policies."
Another mass rally, "No One Is Illegal," starts today at 1 p.m. at Major's Hill Park.
DAY 1 DEVELOPMENTS
Top developments yesterday:
- G8 leaders kick off their summit in Kananaskis, Alta., with a discussion on terrorism, planning to unveil an anti-terrorism package later in the day.
- U.S. President George W. Bush pushes his Mideast peace plan, which calls for Palestinians to elect a new government -- without Yasser Arafat -- in return for American support for an independent Palestine. Most leaders support aspects of the plan but don't embrace the ouster of Arafat, who was democratically elected. Officials say Canada will recognize whoever the Palestinians elect.
- African leaders visiting the summit worry about how the proposal for an aid plan will fare after reports it isn't getting full backing from all G8 leaders.
- About 1,000 anti-globalization and anti-capitalism demonstrators march peacefully through Calgary in the morning. Smaller protests continue throughout the day.
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