East Philly Press Staff
Editor-in-Chief - Bruce L. Park
Contributing Editors - Elliott Levy, Billy Iezzi, Ben Holden, Robin Moore, Carmen Gomez Aguilar, Frank Flynn, Brooke Gunning, Jack Guinan, Patrick Theodore
Nearly 200 Arrested as Police Unleash Tear Gas, Sound Cannons at G-20 Summit in Pittsburgh
As leaders of the world’s richest nations gathered in Pittsburgh for the G-20 summit, thousands took to the streets in protest amidst a heavy police crackdown. Heavily armed riot police were out in force and used tear gas, stun grenades, smoke canisters and sound cannons, which direct extremely loud shrill sounds. Democracy Now! producer Steve Martinez files a report from the streets of Pittsburgh.
G-20 Report, from Democracy Now! producer Steve Martinez.
ANJALI KAMAT: As leaders of the world’s richest nations gathered in Pittsburgh for the G-20 summit this past Thursday and Friday, thousands took to the streets in protest amidst a heavy police crackdown. Heavily armed riot police were out in force and used tear gas, stun grenades, smoke canisters and sound cannons, which direct extremely loud shrill sounds. It was believed to be the first time sound cannons have been publicly used in the United States. More than 175 people were arrested over two days.
Democracy Now! producer Steve Martinez was in the streets of Pittsburgh to cover the story. He filed this report.
STEVE MARTINEZ: Activists from around the country gathered in Arsenal Park in order to protest the G-20 summit. This is protest organizer Albert Petrarca.
ALBERT PETRARCA: We had to go to federal court last week just to get the bare minimum of permits needed to pull this off. So the whole thing has been a conscious strategy on the part of the government, from Mayor Ravenstahl all the way up to the West Wing, to try to tamp down the turnout, because the last thing that Obama needs right now is for there to be protests from his left, from his base.
REVEREND BILLY: Some of us will go to jail today! We will take care of you! We will be there when you get out! Some of us may lose our lives today! We will respect you! You will be our heroes!
