“They’re just 20 in Cannes, here we are billions!” Well, actually, the number of protesters showing up for the Anti G-20 in Nice remains to be seen… but we do know that so far there are at least 200 militants that have come en masse from Spain, and 20 bus loads arriving this morning from all over Europe, paid for by the anti G-20 movement. Is that the tip of the iceberg, or is the Ville just being paranoid? The wildcard is the Black Bloc; the Italian border is being tightly controlled today, but will it be enough to keep them out? And even without the outside influence, will the local vandals take over what is designed to be a peaceful protest?
At any rate, the trams will stop at noon from Place Garibaldi as the protesters gather in front of the Palais des Expositions for the 3pm march. The demonstration will go through Nice Est, where most business will be closed, most cars moved out to free (and guarded) parking lots away from the action, and an impressive 1,500 police will line the route (which could either keep the lid on things, or inflame the vandals… tbd). The march ends at 6pm at the Abattoirs, where there will be a concert and ‘fiesta’ (…olè?)
For the next 2 days, the grand hall of the Abattoirs will be protest-central, with a ‘Peoples Forum’ hosting an impressive slate of conferences that demonstrate that, despite their monniker ‘ATTAC’, the organizers at least, are trying to be constructive and educational. On the other hand, also planned for the next two days, are ‘surprise and symbolic’ actions at undisclosed locations and probably communicated by sms and social media for the maximum surprise… and minimum police. This was a major factor in the chaos of the 2009 summer riots that allowed the rampaging hooded ados to stay one step ahead of the police.
Another factor that could come into play is the so-called ‘Burqa Ban’, the new French law that prohibits covering the face in public, that will allow youths wearing the must-have protest accessory, ski-masks, to be stopped before they actually commit an act of violence.
Explosion or Snooze? The results to be reported tomorrow…
Nice-Matin: Contre-sommet sous haute surveillance, Contre G-20 a Nice: ce que prevoient les antimondialists
See related posts:
- G-20 in Cannes = Good Time to Stay Away
- Anti-G20 Protests in Nice: so far so good
- Presidential Caprices at the G20 Summit in Cannes
- Cannes under the spell of the G20
- Obama Steals the G20 Show
- Cannes Kebab Vendor Saves President Obama
