We live in dangerous times: the energy we use to drive our economy’s need for perpetual growth is throwing the earth’s life support systems out of balance. Violent military and police operations force people to comply with an economic system that centralizes vast amounts of wealth into the hands of a small minority while millions live without access to clean water and other basic services.
All around the world human rights and democratic institutions are under threat from corporations that have been granted the same personhood as the workers whom they exploit. This means that financial giants are protected by the very laws designed to ensure human rights for the most vulnerable people. But whereas the poor of the world are restricted by political boundaries and subject to racist border controls, multinational corporations are free to access resources and markets around the globe. The effect undermines democracy, and wreaks havoc on local economies, as the world’s poorest people are forced to bid against each other for jobs and the global elite enjoy a level of wealth and power never before seen in history.
Today, heads of state from the twenty wealthiest nations on earth meet to decide the direction of the world’s economy behind a billion dollar “security corridor” at the G20 summit. You and thousands of others are mobilizing to demonstrate outrage at these world leaders and the direction that their decisions have led humanity.
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At the demonstration tens of thousands of people have poured into the street representing every belief and nationality across the globe. Chanting, singing and music combine into a cacophony of noise symbolizing a tidal wave of dissent and a common voice of dissatisfaction heard all around the world. But the reality in the street was anything but united.
At the center of the crowd the trade unions have erected a temporary stage. Puppeteers are working with ‘radical’ clowns to set up a political performance for kids while the raging grannies sing protest songs with some well-known folk musicians. People mill about talking and taking in the performance, the atmosphere is positive and jovial. The sounds of a thousand different conversations blend together to create the feeling of a festival. The sweet smell of cooked food reminds you that it’s been hours since you last ate.
“Fuel for the march?” asks a young volunteer. The thought sets your mouth watering. “We’re selling burritos by donation to raise funds for the Green Earth Society. They’re a non-profit that does education about environmental issues. You want one? They’re vegetarian of course. ”
“Thanks,” you say, smiling as you dig a couple of bucks out of your pocket. “I’m starving.”
You take a seat to munch down on your food and listen to the speaker who has now taken the stage. At the microphone is the fiery, charismatic leader of the Social Democrats and head of the official opposition in parliament.
“When I look out at all of you here today, I know that our leaders have really lost their way. This government has sold the people out to their friends in big business, and sold out the values that we hold dear to our hearts in this country. But if they don’t respect the people who elect them, then we have to send them a message this coming election by throwing them out of power! The Social Democrat party has a lot of your support already and we are posed to gain the popular vote. And when I see all the faces out there I know we can do it!”
On cue thousands of balloons sporting the SD party colours stream into the sky and the crowd erupts into enthusiastic applause. But over the fanfare a murmur of discontent is building into a clamour as people start shouting “Lies!” and “Shame!” at the stage.
“You’re tryin’ to pull one over us on our own stage!” yells the stern-faced worker in a hardhat standing beside you.
“What do you mean by that?” you ask. “Aren’t we all in this together?”
For a moment they stare at you through discerning eyes, as if trying to determine your intent before responding “The Social Democrats talk a lot about changing the government from within,” they say. “but they are bound by the system they participate in. They are restrained by the laws that grant them their authority. No positive change for working class people can come from an institution that claims authority over them. I’m with the Solidarity Collective. Our authority comes from the fact that we ARE the working class, organized and mobilized by and for ourselves. We believe that true change will come from where it always has: the grassroots. This march is only the beginning. It’s a demonstration of our numbers. The real action will happen after the protest, when we start exercising our power with general strikes and a cross-the-board divestment from the institutions that oppress us. We’re having a meeting after the march. You want to come?”
You are about to say something when loud chanting drowns out all possibility of conversation. People start raising banners and forming columns. The march is beginning.
Countless multitudes of people are now moving into the streets. The crowd stretches as far as you can see in all directions. That is, except the direction of the “security corridor,” where grim-looking police in riot gear stand observing the crowd. Several groups within the march are sporting riot gear of their own as well, with helmets, goggles, gas masks and makeshift shields. As the march moves on down the street the tension becomes tangible. This government has been known to stonewall the media, obstruct transparency, and bypass the democratic process. It’s no coincidence that so many people have come to the protest. People are angry and they know that the powers that control these police aren’t interested in listening.
After marching for a half an hour the crowd stops moving and you can hear megaphones up ahead but can’t make out what’s being said.
“What’s going on?” you ask a stilt-walker who’s got a better view.
“The police have blocked the march. They won’t let us continue.”
“But this is a legal protest!”
“Yeah, well, I guess they changed their minds about that.”
“Can’t we go around?”
“No. They have us completely surrounded. The only way out is back to the park”
“BACK TO THE PARK” comes a voice over a loudspeaker. “THE POLICE WONT LET US THROUGH BUT WE WONT LET THAT STOP US. WE’RE GOING TO CONTINUE THIS PROTEST BACK AT THE PARK.”
Some people wearing t-shirts with the SD party logo start urging people back, but a lot of folks are determined to continue. Some kind of smoke is drifting up from the front of the march and all of a sudden you hear cries and screaming. Someone climbs atop a car and hollers through cupped hands into the crowd
“MIC CHECK! REPEAT AFTER ME!”
The crowd mimics the speaker echoing back their words making it audible for everyone.
“THE POLICE ARE TRYING TO PUSH US BACK”
The process is as effective as it is slow
“IF YOU FEEL THEATENED, GO BACK TO THE PARK NOW”
Sentences are staggered and repeated back one at a time
“BUT IF YOU RUN, EVERY TIME YOU’RE THREATENED, YOU WILL NEVER STOP RUNNING”
The speech is fragmented but clear, and the method feels inclusive.
“THERE’S ENOUGH OF US HERE TO HOLD THIS POSITION. WE ARE GOING TO TAKE A STAND!”
A cheer erupts from the crowd. People start linking arms forming a human chain in the shape of a circle that takes up the entire intersection. There are still well over a thousand people but the hundred or so riot cops making their way up the street are as well armed as they are outnumbered. Some people dressed in black are pushing dumpsters, mailboxes, and anything else they can move onto the road, trying to make a barricade. It’s keeping the cops back for now but things are about to get hectic.