Stephen Lewis, an advocate for international devolopment and HIV and AIDS, has a sip of water as painted effigies of G20 leaders, British PM Gordon Brown, Canadian PM Stephen Harper and US president Barack Obama rest in chairs following a media conference in Toronto Monday March 8, 2010.Tim Fraser
Nine years ago, Dennis Howlett's son was on the front line of protesters in Quebec City for the Summit of the Americas, tearing down fences and being sprayed with tear gas.
As this summer's G20 Summit in Toronto approaches, the senior Mr. Howlett, co-ordinator of Make Poverty History, said he is concerned about the possibility of a similar showdown between angry demonstrators and the unprecedented police presence planned for the city.
"We are concerned about violence," he said Monday.
Along with a coalition of NGOs, labour and student groups, Make Poverty History launched a campaign Monday called At the Table, a series of events leading up to the G20 on June 26 and 27 aimed at pressuring the Canadian government to increase its commitment to foreign aid. But Mr. Howlett said the group also hopes to make its case before the summit's launch as a way to dissipate the possibility of violent conflict.
"We're trying the critical engagement approach," he said. "Doing anything outside the security perimeter, it's going to be a nightmare with security."
When world leaders arrive in the city, his group plans to be inside the security barricade. They have asked for 200 credentials for NGO representatives from around the world, allowing those who oppose the policies of G20 leaders to make their arguments directly to journalists inside the media tent.
But outside the security barricade is where the credibility of protesters could be lost, the group acknowledged, if police and demonstrators clash in the downtown core.
One Facebook group for protesters, RESIST TORONTO G20 SUMMIT 2010, has more than 800 people already confirming their attendance at a "day of action" during the summit. One of the group's administrators is vocal U.S. anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan, and comments on the group's discussion page range from simple questions about the demonstration's itinerary to people typing "RIOT, RIOT, RIOT."
On the group's Anarchist Forum, one member advised visitors to bring ear plugs as police will "be using the sound cannons." A member from Quebec City solicits contacts with "militant organizations in Toronto."
Stephen Lewis, former UN special envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa, said Monday that the threat of violent demonstrations could undermine efforts to win concessions from world leaders.
"You've got to keep those elements under control," he said.
In addition to Canadian groups, a large contingent of protesters is expected to arrive from the U.S., most of them motivated by environmental issues, Mr. Howlett said.
"There will also be protesters concerned with poverty, climate change and the economy," he said. "Each of those has a big constituency."
The US Social Forum, a social justice event, is expected to bring 30,000 activists to Detroit on June 22-26, many of whom are expected to then travel to Toronto.
At the G20 Summit in London last year, police arrested demonstrators from more than 50 nationalities.
Michelle Paradis, of the G8/G20 summit planning group, said police are already reaching out to protest planners and monitoring websites on which they are planning their events.
"It's not keeping tabs, it's not unlike policing a city normally," she said. "You know the people who are expressly bent on wreaking havoc."
The location of designated protest areas has not been confirmed, she said, and police will not predict how many demonstrators are likely to converge on the city.
"Some event could happen tomorrow that could trigger a change of mood," she said. "On the other hand, it could be a rainy weekend and no one will come."