It is mid-morning on this first day of the G-20 Summit, but so far so good. Greenpeace had people rappelling from a bridge in Pittsburgh yesterday. They dangled above a river with a banner that read “Danger: Climate Destruction Ahead; Reduce CO2 Emissions Now.” After two hours, the police successfully talked them into coming up. Greenpeace did so peacefully and 14 were arrested. For the most part, the protest groups seem a bit unfocused, having ideas but no real agenda. The major demonstration is expected at 2:30 this afternoon from a group called The G-20 Resistance Project, an anarchist group.

Security is about as tight as it can be in this circumstance. You cannot drive into the city. Mayor Luke Ravenstahl stated that the number of city police officers, out-of-town officers and state troopers is approaching 4000. There are over 2400 armed National Guard in the city. Yesterday we could see and hear Apache helicopters circling the city.  Somehow that was a comforting sound. It has also been suggested that the economy has impacted the low (up to this point) turn-out of protesters. Perhaps some did not have the resources for travel and lodging. Just passing this thought along.

The opening reception for the G-20 representatives will be hosted by President Obama this evening at Phipps Conservatory. It is to be a working dinner and the spouses will gather at the estate of Theresa Heinz Kerry. Phipps Conservatory is a beautiful place of botanical gardens and has been restructured in the last few years to be a Green building. You can Google this for a well-deserved look.

We will attempt to bring you rolling updates as situations warrant.

—cher

2:45p.m

SWAT Teams have moved into the Strip District of Pittsburgh to remove the unlicensed (by the City) group The G-20 Resistance Project, an anarchist group. Police are making some arrests and searching buildings in the vicinity. The Strip District of Pittsburgh is a market district of wholesalers, retailers, restaurants and cafe’s. It is approximately twenty blocks from the Convention Center where the G-20 will take place tomorrow. It is also within twenty blocks of where some dignitaries are staying. SWAT teams are in full armor. Some sources are calling this group The People’s Uprising. Again, they were not issued a permit to demonstrate. It has been reported that OC vapor had been dispersed into the crowd. It has also been reported that there are now sixty to one hundred of these protesters in a stand-off with the City SWAT Team. Some of the protesters are wearing either full face masks or bandannas which cover their nose and mouth, some are not.  There are police on the tops of buildings of the Convention Center and all other major points in the city. This was a protest which had been anticipated and prepared for.

The Russian dignitaries who were on their way into the city had to be re-routed.

4:45

Protesters are estimated to number about 100 people. SWAT Teams are now beating their shields with their batons and moving toward the protesters,  after giving the protesters much warning to disperse. As police move forward, the protesters are moving slowly back but yelling to police, “Disobey your orders.”

Armored police vehicles are now moving in toward the protesters. They are telling the potesters that this is “an unlawful assembly. If you do not leave you will be in violation.” Police in riot gear are also moving in.

5:00

Armored vehicles of the city police are moving slowly forward using piercing sirens and along with SWAT Teams are slowly pushing the crowd away from the immediacy of the downtown area. To this point there has been no violence on either side.

6:00 p.m.

All is quiet for now on the Pittsburgh front.