“Shut Down the G8 Summit” Alternative sound demonstration – Shinjuku
Following Saturday’s meeting and speech by Susan George, the “working groups” from “Shut Down the G8 Summit” met other demonstrators in the heavy rain at Kashigawa Park on Sunday afternoon.
Here there was a brief rally, with Susan George among others giving short speeches:
After the rally, we marched down Yasukuni Road, Meji Road, and Koushukaidou Road which led us back to the park.
The police split the march into two, for ease of escorting I assume. I was in the front group with the sound truck. There were also quite a few protesters with their faces covered, who were chanting anti-capitalist slogans:
The police were a bit pushy at some points, but it was a peaceful demonstration with no arrests. There were probably a few hundred people taking part altogether. Various international groups were represented including No Vox and Confederación Nacional del Trabajo.
“Smash G8 Summit” – Shibuya
Meanwhile, another demonstration was taking place in Shibuya. This march had been organised by the Japanese labour unions, in particular Doro Chiba (the railways’ union). The police had changed the course of the march with little notice, always a sure way to make protesters more angry.
The organisers’ website shows some good photos of the march including this one:
They also link to this youtube video which shows the protesters were very animated:
The march had a higher turnout than the one I attended in Shinjuku and seems to have had a greater police presence as well. I did not see any police with riot shields at the “Shut Down the G8 Summit” march. I suppose “Smash G8 Summit” is more provocative.
Gulfnews.com reports that there were at least 2 arrests, and shows some photos from Associated Press:
As can be seen from the event’s English page, the organisers chose to link their action to the international strikes, protests and food riots which are occurring worldwide:
The world is in a revolutionary situation
Why are our wages so low? Why are our livings, livings of workers in such poverty?
Because capitalists are getting unprecedented gains, replacing full-time workers by temporary ones. They are making large profits, speculating on grain and oil. They are completely responsible for state of things today.
People of the world are getting angry. There are demonstrations and strikes everyday and everywhere: public sector workers in England, education workers in France, post and traffic workers in Germany, and health workers in Denmark etc. There are also food riots everywhere in the world, in Asia, Africa and Latin America as well as in the Middle East.
It’s high time to demonstrate our strength to Bush, Fukuda and the capitalists of the world.
It is a little frustrating that the anti-G8 activities are not better coordinated between groups such as those demonstrating yesterday. After two days with “Shut Down the G8 Summit” I feel that there needs to be a greater appreciation of the importance of the worldwide anger being felt towards governments this year, and at least the union march was seemingly organised along those lines. I will be keeping a closer eye on their anti-G8 activities, including a rally in Sapporo on 6th July.
