Citizens Protesting G20 Summit are Attacked
Taxpayer-Funded US Troops, Police and Military Attack US Citizens
Sep 26, 2009
American protesters and bystanders were attacked on September 24th and 25th, 2009 by armed troops of American police, military and National Guard during the G20 Summit.
US Police, National Guard, and Military Use Lethal Weapons on Protesters and Bystanders
Barack Obama sided with G20, allowing US police, National Guard, and Military to attack US citizens, including bystanders.
Eric Stoner's article, "According to Obama, Global Capitalism is an 'Abstraction' Not Worth Protesting" was published in Alternet. Stoner makes the point that "Obama disgracefully sent in the militarized police -- with the National Guard on the ready -- to silence their dissent."
Witnesses report being fired upon with OC Vapor, also known as tear gas. Other people reported being hit with batons or rubber bullets. "Bean bags" were also used, as well as a Long Range Acoustic Device, also called "Sound Cannons."
In “Protesters Clash with Police at G20,” Michelle Nichols writes: “U.S. Secret Service spokesman Darrin Blackford said the gas used on Thursday was OC Vapor, which contains the active ingredient in pepper spray and causes the eyes to tear.”
All of these weapons have the potential to harm, maim, or kill. Specifically, both OC and pepper gas cause miscarriages and respiratory difficulties.
Batons can bruise, break bones and cause concussions. Rubber bullets also bruise, break bones, and cause concussions. “Bean Bags” are not playful toys, but are painful and lethal. Injuries range from loss of an eye, to death if the bean bag enters the brain. Sound cannons cause permanent ear damage and deadly aneurysms. In addition, the weapons mentioned above all cause Post Tramatic Stress Syndrome.
Protester Weapons
Most protesters were peaceful. A few protesters overturned trash cans or threw rocks or bottles.
Some protesters dressed in black who were inciting violence are believed to have been police, and undercover agents from the FBI and/or CIA, trying to incite a riot and thus discredit the protest.
Number of Arrests and Protester ViewpointsAbout 100 people were arrested, including protesters, bystanders, or students just trying to get from one part of the University of Pittsburgh campus to another.
One writer noted that the group in black were fighting for the citizens’ right to assembly.
“Most of the people you saw were anarchists or other sympathizers because they were the only group that decided not to be marginalized. What you saw there was a black block, a tactic formed in response to the marginalization of protests and police violence against protesters.” YouTube. Broadcast Yourself
Another writer notes:
“I was there this afternoon in person… only saw one random act of destruction…police outnumbered protesters five to one. This is NOT America! Pittsburgh was a militarized zone today…I am gravely ashamed of my country today and its flag. I am ashamed to call myself an American today.” YouTube. Broadcast Yourself
Information about the G20 Summit in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
The G20 website states, "Since 1999, the G20 has contributed to strengthen the international financial architecture and to foster sustainable economic growth and development."
20 finance ministers and central bank governors from 19 countries and the European Union hold appointed positions gained through an intricate and opaque manner. The G20 people are not elected by citizens of any country.
G20 nations hold about 80 per cent of the world’s resources, funds, and population. The G20’s stated reason for the summit is to “discuss global economic issues” and “how to avoid another global economic crisis.”
According to its webstie, "The G20 will need to send a strong signal that it is prepared to take whatever further actions are necessary to stabilise the financial system and to provide further macroeconomic support."
According to The Guardian, G20 agreed upon "installing themselves as permanent stewards of the world's economy."
The United States Constitution and Bill of Rights are Cited by Protesters for Freedom of AssemblyArticle 1, Constitution of the United States of America.
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
G20 organizers insist that citizens need a permit to protest, and demand that the protests be held far from the G20 meeting site.
Citizens insist they do not need a permit for protests protected by the First Amendment. Citizens insist that they can protest near the G20 meeting site.
No Conclusion in Sight for Regarding First Amendment Right to Protest
The United States government is using American tax-payer funded police, National Guard, and military personnel to protect an un-elected international group of financers and central bank governors, and to attack US citizens protesting the meeting of this group. Citizens plan to continue their petitions to the U.S. government servants regarding their grievances.
References
“Contacting the Congress.” Online Directory for the 111th Congress.
“G20.” The Guardian. “Teargas Used on Protesters.”
“G20 Pittsburgh LIVE Coverage.
“G20 Protests Pittsburgh.” YouTube. September 24, 2009.
“LIVE: G-20 Protesters In Pittsburgh Streets.”
Nichols, Michelle. “Protesters Clash with Police at G20.” Reuters. Thursday, September 24, 2009 11:37pm BST (Writing by Mark Egan, additional reporting by Jonathan Barnes; Editing by Frances Kerry)
“Secret Service Confirm ‘Bean Bags’ Shot at Protesters.” Economic Policy Journal.From Twitter: Macroscope.
Strobino, Dante. “Day 5-Sept. 24.” BailOutPeople.org.
Watson, Paul Joseph. "Military Attacks American Citizens with Sound Weapons and Tear Gas at G20.” Prison Planet. September 24, 2009.
Wintour, Patrick, and Andrew Clark. "G20 Leaders Map Out New Economic Order at Pittsburgh Summit." The Guardian. September 26, 2009.
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