Protesters drop in on Pittsburgh for G-20 summit

The G-20 summit hasn’t even begun in Steel City, and already the protests have started.

Under stormy skies Wednesday morning, a group of Greenpeace protesters scaled Pittsburgh's West End Bridge and hung a banner that read “Danger: Climate destruction ahead.” The banner, and several members of the group, hung off the bridge until some not-so-amused police officers arrived and arrested them.

All told, police said that 14 members of Greenpeace were arrested in connection with the bridge stunt, as well as a protest at a second bridge, and will be charged with a variety of misdemeanors. The security here is tight, bordering on feeling like a military state. The city, which is paying to have thousands of additional police working this week, has stationed cop cars along each bridge and along the roadways leading into Pittsburgh’s riverfront downtown.

In downtown, as military vehicles and police cars patrolled the streets and set up metal-wall barricades, crews of construction workers spent Wednesday afternoon boarding up shop windows and doors with sheets of plywood. Locals worried about potential violence and traffic nightmares, a sentiment shared in storefronts both small (cafes and mom-and-pop grocery stores) and large (offices used by the Catholic Church’s Pittsburgh diocese).

Such concern was fueled by an online list of more than 100 possible locations for antiwar, anti-government, anti-globalization and -- well, insert your favorite anti- group here -- to protest during the two-day gathering. The list, which can be viewed here, was compiled by a local coalition of protest groups, and locations include Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods grocery stores, Starbucks cafes and a few strip clubs.

“I’m staying home and ...

... far away from this mess,” said Lindsay Donohue, 24, who said she works as a cocktail waitress at a couple of downtown restaurants. “I don’t want to take a chance of being here if something goes wrong.”

Anti-G-20 groups say they’re already having trouble with too-zealous law enforcement. Not that they’re getting much sympathy in the courts. This week, a federal judge ruled in favor of the city – and against two protest groups – saying the groups had not suffered “irreparable harm” after police searched their members over the weekend.

Judge Gary Lancaster added that he would not prevent the city from conducting such searches in the future.

--P.J. Huffstutter

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Photo: Greenpeace activists at the West End Bridge spanning the Ohio River near downtown Pittsburgh. Credit: AFP/Getty Images.

Comments

[steve rodriguez]

Drill baby drill!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Hiroko]

Go, activism! It's good that there're still so many Americans whose televisions haven't massaged their brains into a permanent state of perceived powerlessness.

[Hubert]

This week, a federal judge ruled in favor of the city – and against two protest groups – saying the groups had not suffered “irrepairable harm” after police searched their members over the weekend.
Judge Gary Lancaster added that he would not prevent the city from conducting such searches in the future.

Obvioulsy we have now reached the stage that we are no longer protected against unreasonable searches.
Saying the groups had not suffered “irrepairable harm” is not upholding the consitution. The criteria is that the searches were unreasonable and not if they caused “irrepairable harm”.
Does that mean we are now free to break the laws as long as we cause no “irrepairable harm”? That makes all traffic violations that do not result in an accident obsolete for starters. Lat's get rolling and apply that precedent setting application of the law to everything.

[hsr0601]

We need to siege the last chance for economic growth !!

1. About two thirds of deficit in the U.S. accrue from oil import.
In this economy, fuel price is hovering around $65 to $75 a barrel, which highlights the actual value might be much the same as the peak price last year, and it will continue to spiral up unquestionably.

2. As with "Inaction" cost, $9trillion over the next decade in Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security, supposedly the same is of inaction on the 21st energy bill to determine war & peace, catastrophe & prosperity. For the global economy to reign in the runaway price of fossil fuels, "Sustainable Option" will be indispensable.

3. Looking to worthless, painful and wasteful oil wars, namely, the "Original Source" of this great recession, to waste time bickering over meaningless things and drag feet on a defining energy bill are sure to shake the embryonic effect of stimulus package that is an interim measure for build-out of a new foundation.

4. As the overall oil reserve in Middle East, let alone the rest of oil-producing areas, is on the decline more than known, the region blessed with affluent sun rays also needs to ready for a new groundwork, particularly in this context AEU is beginning to concentrate on future energy and Iranian EV is rolling out recently, the countries in the region will never stand still on the occupation, that means no matter what the result is, the repetitious mistake at the cost of invaluable lives and gigantic spending will end up with a heartbreaking tragedy once again.

5. Facing a sharp downturn in fossil fuels all over the world, the world-wide overpopulation growing consistently is using up tremendous fossil fuels at an alarming pace. Especially when the own conventional resources in some dense countries is facing drastic dent, it adds up explicitly.

6. For that reason, it is widely accepted that the price of fossil fuels is expected to go up and up simply, which is behind all but major states taking a bold and speedy action in a bid to put the global economy on a sustainable and solid ground.

7. Thankfully and interestingly enough, 100s of Companies (with $13 Trillion) Are Demanding Strong Climate Deal in Copenhagen just like environmental activists, a coalition of more than 500 Global Businesses is also demanding ambitious new climate deal, and the report by Blair and the Climate Group, a London-based nonprofit organization, found a climate-change accord among all countries would spur economic growth and create as many as 10 million jobs by 2020.

8. Currently, a 21st energy bill has passed the House and is making its way through Senate. According to CBO, this bill known as more progressive generally would trim budget deficit by $24.4 billion of a net gain.

9. I think the world is eagerly looking forward to Americans' participation, and if it were not for world-wide massive job creation, the world can not pull the economy out of this recession successfully.

10. I'd say only science and innovation can meet this challenge, and the science enough for all around the globe to live in harmony is awaiting final assembly by way of innovation. It seems to me that this great recession is pitching us a serious lesson to make sure we build a bridge for future generations, otherwise, our generation, too, is falling off the cliff.

Thank You !

[Jon]

If you look at that list of possible protest sites you'll see most of it makes no sense. For example Whole Foods and Traders Joes are on the list. Both of these places sell lots of organic and fair trade goods, why would they get protested. Further, Giant Eagle is on the list and they too sell lots of organic stuff and they pay a fair wage. In high school, I used to make over $11 an hour as a cashier there. If you stay long enough you can earn about $13 as a bagger or a cashier. Where are all the Walmarts? How could you possibly put whole foods on the list and no Walmart?

[Queen Roi]

To me it seems like the job of the judge is not to question weather the "groups had suffered “irreparable harm” or not. I guess there's circumstances... such as if the ones searched were in fact doing crimes, but if they were searched with out cause, then to me, THAT seems like the job of the judge. To enforce the code of ethics and practices done by law enforcement.

[Jerod]

Good, keep these jerks out of my beautiful city. I didn't want the G20 here and I definitely don't want the protesters here either. Pittsburgh doesn't need the positive publicity, we know we aren't what people think we are, and we know why we choose to live here.

[Jeff]

This is ridiculous. These protesters aren't doing anything but wasting tax payer money by making the city/state/government pay for extra police and secret service protection for average, everyday people who are scared of what may happen to them and their city.

These some of these protesters may really believe what they are saying but most are opportunists. If you disagree then explain why the riots of the past and the looting? That doesn't make any good point except "I want this now, and free."

If you believe in a cause and feel you need to protest, that's fine. Make banners, March, but literally fighting police, looting, and destroying any city by fire or attempts to disrupt a city by blocking traffic is criminal and goes way over the line of freedom of speech and assembly.

Big businesses and even countries listen to one thing. That's there wallet. You really want to hurt any of these people organize boycotts, once the money stops or slows, only then will "they" listen to you. Not while you are creating anarchy.

[deadmousegirl]

Since when has protesting become a CRIME?!!?
What about all that "free speech" stuff that we value here in the U.S.?

Seriously, the enforcement methods here are ridiculous, militant, and oppressive. I understand heightened security, given that many world leaders are present, but not the oppression of citizen's rights.

And BTW, why does the city of Pittsburgh and it's workers/businesses have to pick up the tab again?

[Julia]

They have the right to protest, but do you really think that people hanging off bridges and harassing Whole Foods customers is going to change anything? These people's causes would be better served if they just spent the time calling their Senators and Representatives.

[ronnierayjenkins]

The security here is tight, bordering on feeling like a military state.

Key sentence.

[McConan]

Wow, 14 already arrested, not even really "started" yet.

Contrast this to the 9/12 Taxpayer March on DC. 1.1-1.5 Million ppl (approx) and not 1 arrest. Not to mention, no one selling water. I had to walk almost 1/2 mile to buy a $5.50 bottle of water. Also, only 20 portapotties. All by Pennsylvania Ave, which the mass of people were, so you couldn't get back.

For this, they've called up 4,000 police, 2,000 National Guard troops, plus 11 Coastguard vessels.

In DC, we basically had SOME of the DC police and the Capital police. MAYBE, and I mean maybe 30-50 officers total for the whole event.

Pelosi, Reid, Obama, WHO ARE THE EXTREMISTS?!?!?!? Hmmm?

[KING OF PLANET POPTART]

Should have said "dollar destruction ahead"... lousy crybaby tree hugging environmentalists are being used to enforce eugenics!

[David]

Riot gear, and tear gas. See, this is what is required to deal with the left when they protest. I don't recall tear gas being needed when the Tea Party protests took place. Perhaps Pelosi was crying last week about violence from her own party?

[AveryAction]

To quote Eddy Murphy: May I suggest using a night stick, officer? People do not have an inalienable right to disrupt, destroy and annoy. It is one thing to organize a protest where people express their opposition to abortion, it is quite another to prevent entry to clinics. You have a right to express your opinion, not to mess with other people. The city that hosts the next G-20 should pass legislation with much longer jail/prison sentences for civil disobedience first. Where's a good water cannon when you need one?

[Thom Rabone]

Lobotomy baby Lobotomy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Way to go citizen activists. Take it to the Streets !

[Chris]

"Judge Gary Lancaster added that he would not prevent the city from conducting such searches in the future."

So much for the 4th Amendment

[Jason J]

McConan: The estimates for the DC protest on 9/12 wore about 70k people.. and most wore extreme right nationalists.. nationalists don't really protest.. but hold parades..

The protestors at the g20 are truly protesting. This scares the people taking part in the g20.. Which is namely large corporations, and banks who we just bailed out. So those participating in the g20 paid for a very big police force to be there(guess what.. with some of your bail out money).. The protestors are tired, and upset of large corporations, and banks making decisions, and subverting the democratic process.

Just because the protestors are 'left' of the dial for both republicans, and democrats.. doesn't mean you might actually agree with them on some things..