G20 Protests in London, England 2009

Peaceful March Preceeds Protest Violence and Tomlinson Death

Apr 8, 2009 Jenn Hardy

Protestors often get a rep as troublemakers. Some who attended this year's G20 protests in London were no exception. But many also marched peacefully and purposefully.

Group of 20 Summit

March 28, 2009, 35,000 people took to the streets of London, England, in a massive peaceful march four days before this year's G-20 summit.

As bank governors and finance ministers from 19 countries around the world prepared to gather for the G-20 summit, protesters donning green construction helmets waved banners and signs pleading for action on climate change and green jobs.

Marchers Demand Jobs, Justice and Climate At Top of G-20 Agenda

Largely exceeding organizers' expectations, people came together for the march called “Put People First” from a number of charities, trade unions and church groups including Oxfam, Save the Children and “global web movement” Avaaz which gave out the recyclable, UK-made construction hats to symbolize the need for green jobs. A large presence was felt by newspaper Socialist Worker as well as the Green Party. Some people marched with banners that said “We won't pay for their crisis,” “Brown out green power” and Oxfam's “Be Humankind.” Some people marched with their children, others rode their bicycles.

Though participants were serious about the messages they were hoping to convey to G-20 leaders, the general feeling of the march was one of hope and positivity. The day finished off at Hyde Park where guest speakers including comedian and political activist Mark Thomas also passed on a message of hope.

Though the Put People First march ran smoothly, with reports of just one man being arrested for being drunk in the streets, the G-20 protests which followed did not.

Thugs Smash RBS Windows on Financial Fools Day

On April 1, named “Financial Fools Day,” angry protesters smashed in windows of the Royal Bank of Scotland. An event of this sort was predicted, police stood by prepared for violence and the branch closed, but computer keyboards and coins flew through the windows and the mob let itself in the building. The attack on the RBS comes shortly after former chief executive, Sir Fred Goodwin received a £703,000 pension arrangement, though it is questionable if the unmasked tracksuit wearing thugs who took part in the violence had any idea why they were there. The photographer/thug ratio looked to be 10:1.

Police Push Tomlinson, 47, At Protest and He Later Dies Of Heart Attack

And at a protest in England's capital on Wednesday, the day before the G-20 summit, 47-year-old Ian Tomlinson, died during a protest outside the Bank of England. Tomlinson had a heart attack, but was just before caught on video being pushed by a police officer.

According to the Guardian the man “was attacked from behind and thrown to the ground by a baton-wielding police officer in riot gear.” The video shot by a New York fund manager, available on the Guardian's website shows Tomlinson walking calmly down the street away from the with his hands in his pockets before he is assaulted by an officer. He walked away after being pushed to the pavement, and made it 50 yards before collapsing and dying.

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