As President Obama was holding one-on-one meetings Wednesday with the leaders of Russia and China, thousands of protesters marched in the streets of London, and there were several violent clashes with police.A mob of protesters, many of them with their faces hidden by bandanas, smashed windows at a Royal Bank of Scotland building in the City, as London's financial district is known. RBS has been one of the highest-profile banks hit by the current economic crisis and was essentially nationalized to keep it from failure, at a cost of billions of dollars to British taxpayers.
Protesters scrawled "Thieves" on the side of the building, which they entered through the broken windows. They threw a printer and other office equipment into the street. Several intruders made it to the building's roof.
Hundreds of protesters charged police, who hit back with batons. Police estimated that at least 4,000 demonstrators were in the area, which also includes the headquarters of the Bank of England....MORE, including video.
Contrast with Reuters' report on the March 28 version in Paris:
We’re lounging against The Man!
Today’s political protesters don’t seem to have the commitment we saw in the turbulent 20th century. I’ve ranted about golf-playing protesters, radicals who don’t quite get it, and protesters who only rally in historical costumes.
But this may be the worst. A photo of guys demonstrating against the G20 summit, IN FRICKING DECK CHAIRS!
That’s right. It’s like they came prepared to see fireworks or an eclipse or something.
“Excuse me, Alain, avez-vous the croissants?”
“Mais Non, Henri, but try some brie and champagne!”
We asked for comments but rally organizers reclined, so to speak. One protester did explain that lounge chairs make it easier to leave in a hurry when police are coming.
“You’ve gotta know when to fold ‘em,” he said.
Monsters & Critics has a couple dozen photos:
In photos: 'Britain G20 Protests'
By James Wray Apr 1, 2009, 14:38 GMT
A 'Horseman of the Apocalypse' leads anti-capitalist and climate change activists facing police as they stage a protest march outside the Bank of England, in the City of London, Britain, 01 April 2009. Protesters are holding a series of marches throughout the capital's financial district, coinciding with the G20 summit April 02. Police are mounting a huge security operation and businesses have also prepared for the demonstrations, with some boarding up premises. EPA/FELIPE TRUEBA
Read more: "In photos: 'Britain G20 Protests'" - http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/uk/features/article_1468268.php/In_photos_Britain_G20_Protests#ixzz0BRC1pwXn
