The G20 summit is coming here on Wednesday, and there are seven officially notified demonstrations taking place across the city on that day, maybe more that are being organised covertly. The newspapers are abuzz with internet chatter that a thousand hardcore anarchist activists have made their way into the country and are planning to run wild on April fool's day. The police are warning of an 'almost unprecedented level of activity.' The two things everyone is worried about is a repeat of the violent protests of the G8's 27th summit in Genoa, and Britain's own 'poll tax riots' in 1990, which brought down Margaret Thatcher.
This guy is ready
I think people expect this to be the moment when the undercurrent of popular frustration with the way the economy is going bursts onto the surface in a spasm of violence. The banks, who are hated here as much as AIG is in the states, are certainly taking the danger seriously. Lots of banks have issued memos to their staff to 'dress down' on Wednesday, lest they be an easily identifiable target to roaming mobs. Other banks have just told everyone to take the day off. My office isn't a bank, but they are located in the financial district, so they're locking the doors, and we're supposed to bring ID if we don't have our own key. Some offices are also turning out the lobby lights, to make it look like no one is home. Meanwhile, the government has cleared construction sites of 'loose debris' which could be used as projectiles and all police on leave for Wednesday have been called back to service.
On the other hand, at least some bankers are looking to fight back against what they perceive to be an unfair demonization of their occupation. A lot of these guys were apparently rugby players and boxers in college and are probably itching to hit back at society. There's one group that has pledged to wear three-piece suits and bowler hats to see if anyone has the guts to try them.
Me, I have the day off by coincidence. Grace and I are going to a matinee showing of a play. We meant to go on a weekend, but accidently bought non-refundable tickets for a Wednesday months ago. So we at least have a choice about whether to check things out or not. And we won't have to be wearing work clothes.
We'll see if the whole thing is as overblown as the Y2K bug soon enough...
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