SAN FRANCISCO – Activists protesting corporate profits, environmental abuses, poor working conditions and the Israel-Hamas war are among those planning to march in downtown San Francisco on Sunday, united in their opposition to a global trade summit that will draw President Joe Biden and leaders from nearly two dozen countries.
Protests are expected throughout this week’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders’ conference, which could attract more than 20,000 attendees, including hundreds of international journalists.
The No to APEC coalition, made up of more than 100 grassroots groups, said the trade deal reached at the summit was like exploiting APEC workers and their families.
It is unlikely that world leaders will see the protests given that tight security zones are only accessible to attendees at the Moscone Center’s conference hall and other summit sites.
But Suzanne Ali, an organizer for the Palestinian Youth Movement, said the US government should be held accountable for supplying weapons to Israel in its war against Hamas.
“Even if they can’t see us, because we’re moving and marching together, they’ll know we’re out there,” he said.
Protests are expected throughout this week’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders’ conference, which could draw more than 20,000 attendees.AP
San Francisco has a tradition of loud and forceful protests, as do trade talks. In 1999, tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets in Seattle during a World Trade Organization conference.
Protesters managed to delay the start of the conference and attracted global attention when overwhelmed police fired tear gas and plastic bullets, and arrested hundreds of people.
Start your day with everything you need to know
Morning Report delivers the latest news, videos, photos and more.
Chile pulled out of hosting APEC in 2019 due to massive protests.
Last year, when Thailand hosted the summit in Bangkok, pro-democracy protesters challenged the legitimacy of the Thai prime minister, prompting police to fire into the crowd with rubber bullets that injured several protesters and a Reuters reporter.
San Francisco Police Department Chief Bill Scott said he expected several protests a day, although it was uncertain how many would materialize.
He warned against criminal behavior.
“People are welcome to exercise their constitutional rights in San Francisco, but we will not tolerate people who commit acts of violence, or destruction of property or any other crime,” Scott said. “We will make arrests when necessary.”
APEC, a regional economic forum, was established in 1989 and has 21 member countries, including the world’s two largest economic powers China and the US, as well as Mexico, Brazil and the Philippines.
An accompanying CEO summit is scheduled for this week, which critics also plan to protest Wednesday.
Leading the summit was a highly anticipated meeting between Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping, who rarely – if ever – meets with protesters in the homeland.
China has strict security controls before any event within its borders to ensure no protests take place.
It also increased border checks at city limits and at transit points such as train stations and airports.
Human rights activists based in China will often receive visits or phone calls from the police before important events as a reminder not to demonstrate.
APEC, a regional economic forum, was established in 1989 and has 21 member countries, including the world’s two largest economic superpowers China and the USAP
Rory McVeigh, professor of sociology and director of the Center for the Study of Social Movements at the University of Notre Dame, said politicians use protests to gauge public opinion, and media attention helps.
“Maybe a lot of protests don’t make a lot of difference, but sometimes they do and sometimes they can make a big difference,” he said.
The United Vietnamese American Community of Northern California plans to protest Xi and Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong. The International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines will rally for the rights of indigenous Filipinos and protest the presence of President Bongbong Marcos, the son of dictator Ferdinand Marcos.
Protesters are upset that San Francisco, with its rich history of standing up for the working class, will play host to company CEOs and national leaders they say pose a grave danger.
“It’s stupid, from the mayor to the governor to the president, they want to say it’s a good idea to have all these people who have profited from the intersecting crisis of our time,” said Nik Evasco, a climate activist. “It’s just sickening.”
Categories: Trending
Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
