SAN FRANCISCO – Activists protesting corporate profits, environmental abuses, poor working conditions and the war between Israel and Hamas are among those planning to march in downtown San Francisco on Sunday, united in their opposition to a summit global trade that will bring together President Joe Biden and leaders. from almost two dozen countries.
Protests are expected throughout this week’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum leaders’ conference, which could draw more than 20,000 attendees, including hundreds of international journalists.
The No to APEC coalition, made up of more than 100 grassroots groups, says that trade agreements reached at summits like APEC exploit workers and their families.
It is unlikely that world leaders will even glimpse the protests given the strict security zones that only attendees of the Moscone Center conference room and other summit venues can access.
But Suzanne Ali, an organizer with the Palestinian Youth Movement, says the U.S. government must be held accountable for supplying weapons to Israel in its war against Hamas.
“Even if they can’t see us, as we mobilize and march together, they will know we are out there,” he said.
Protests are expected during this week’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum leaders’ conference, which could draw more than 20,000 attendees.
San Francisco has a long tradition of loud and vigorous protests, as well as trade negotiations. In 1999, tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets of Seattle during a World Trade Organization conference.
Protesters managed to delay the start of the conference and gained 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 withdrew as host of APEC in 2019 due to mass 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 journalist.
San Francisco Police Department Chief Bill Scott said he expects several protests a day, although it’s unclear how many will materialize.
He warned against criminal behavior.
“People can exercise their constitutional rights in San Francisco, but we will not tolerate people committing acts of violence, 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 superpowers, China and the United States, as well as Mexico, Brazil and the Philippines.
A CEO summit is scheduled for this week, which critics also plan to protest on Wednesday.
Headlining the summit is a highly anticipated meeting between Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping, who rarely, if ever, meets protesters on his own soil.
China has strong security measures in place before any event within its borders to ensure no protests occur.
It also intensifies border controls at city limits and at transit points such as railway stations and airports.
Human rights activists based in China often receive visits or phone calls from police before important events to remind them 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 USAP.
Rory McVeigh, professor of sociology and director of the Center for the Study of Social Movements at the University of Notre Dame, says politicians use protests to gauge public opinion, and media attention helps.
“Probably a lot of protests just don’t make much of a difference, but occasionally 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 Vietnam President Vo Van Thuong. The International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines will demonstrate for the rights of indigenous Filipinos and protest the presence of President Bongbong Marcos, son of dictator Ferdinand Marcos.
Protesters are disappointed that San Francisco, with its rich history of defending the working class, plays host to corporate CEOs and country leaders who they say cause great harm.
“It’s nonsense, from the mayor to the governor to the president, they want to say it’s a great idea to have all these people who have been benefiting from the intersecting crises of our time,” said Nik Evasco, a climate activist. “It’s just disgusting.”
Categories: Trending
Source: vtt.edu.vn