G-8 Draws Mixed Signals (Georgia June Summit may draw thousands of antiglobalization protesters)

WASHINGTON - With an eye on a large number of symbolic gatherings – including the Group of 8 Sea Island Summit – Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge is forming a new government task force to better coordinate public and private security, and hopefully prevent the next terrorist attack.

Beginning with the dedication of the new World War II Memorial in Washington over the Memorial Day weekend, Ridge said high-profile public events this year may be attractive targets for al-Qaida and like-minded terrorist groups.

"We are rich with opportunities this year for terrorists to shake our will," Ridge said in a telephone interview Sunday. "The message is that Homeland Security doesn't wait to raise the threat level in order to make us safer and more secure."

Ridge said officials don't have specific intelligence about possible attacks. But based on analysis, the government is paying attention to potential targets.

These include next month's war memorial dedication, the June 8 through 10 G-8 meeting on Sea Island, large gatherings nationwide for Fourth of July celebrations, the July Democratic convention in Boston, the August Republican convention in New York and the August Olympics in Athens.

Glynn County Fire Chief Al Thomas and Brunswick Fire Chief Lee Stewart said that Ridge's identification of the G-8 summit as a potential terrorist target is hardly new information. Their departments have been planning and training for the worst-cases scenarios for months.

"We have spent a phenomenal amount of hours preparing for this, and training to respond to a terrorist attack," said Stewart. "It just comes with the territory when you are hosting the world."

Thomas said that while Ridge's statement won't change the way his department has been preparing for the upcoming summit, it adds some additional psychological pressure to the situation.

"Obviously, when something like that is said, it increases the anxiety level for everyone about the G-8, but we are doing a lot of training in order to respond to any type of emergency that develops," Thomas said.

With the new task force, Homeland Security officials will be joined by representatives from eight Cabinet-level agencies in an effort to improve coordination as the government works to secure critical infrastructure and increase the nation's readiness.

Ridge was to announce the move officially in a speech today at a National Association of Broadcasters meeting in Las Vegas.

Extensive plans are already in the works to protect the party conventions and the G-8 meeting, which have been classified as National Security Special Events. With the designation — a concept that evolved from the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta — comes heightened security coordinated by Homeland Security's Secret Service agency.

Ridge said he is leaning on authority from two of Bush's homeland-security directives to create the task force.

will also work with industry, governors and police and other first responders. The group, for instance, will coordinate with states to implement the infrastructure strategies they have submitted to his department.

"Chemical facilities have been on everybody's mind," Ridge said, noting that Homeland Security is already working with states and companies to protect more than 300 identified chemical sites. "There will be a lot more activity in the months ahead," he said.

Sea Island, Georgia, United States, June 8-10, 2004 will be the site for the Group of 8 Sea Island Summit(G-8). Some estimated 5,000 - 70,000 protestors are expected. The NYTimes reports: "Thousands of antiglobalization protesters are expected when President Bush plays host to the leaders of Britain, Japan, Germany, Italy, France, Canada and Russia on secluded Sea Island, which is near Brunswick. Brunswick is the nearest inland community to Sea Island, which will be off limits to demonstrators. Savannah, 60 miles north, will house journalists and dignitaries. With the summit less than two months away, neither city has approved permits for demonstrations."

The county alone has approximately 75,000 residents, St. Simmons 16,000 and Sea Island 1,000. Two weeks prior to the G-8, all water sports will cease such as water skiing, kayaking, normal marina activities. Residents going on and off the island will be subject to search. Strict security will be undertaken to keep all offshore people from coming on.

Sat, Apr 17, 2004, The Brunswick News interviewed Judy Wright, owner of Island Dive Center at the Golden Isles Marina. Wright said she "has few options other than to close, since the U.S. Coast Guard's proposed security zone around St. Simons and Jekyll will prevent her from renting any personnel watercraft or other vessels."

"The coastal city of Brunswick, where Mr. Robert Randall hopes to gather up to 10,000 people to protest the meeting of Group of 8, passed a law last month that placed conditions on public demonstrations."

"Organizers must put up refundable deposits equal to the city's estimated cost for cleanup and police protection. Demonstrations may last only 2 hours, 30 minutes. Signs and banners may not be carried on sticks that might be brandished as weapons. And the signs may not be larger than 2 by 3 feet."

"This law would not exist if the G-8 was not coming here," said Mr. Randall, 51, a local therapist who has attended demonstrations since the Vietnam War. "It makes it impossible to express oneself through assembly or speech on public property unless you have money."

"Savannah, Brunswick and surrounding counties have passed ordinances governing protest permits. The American Civil Liberties Union has threatened to sue, saying the laws "place impermissible limits on free speech."

"City officials have said that protesters wanting to use public parks will be charged the same fees — $150 to $700 per day — as people renting those spaces for private events. Groups of 150 or more must pay maintenance deposits of $1.50 per head."

Mayor Johnson of Savannah has declined comment, citing threat of litigation from the civil liberties union.

Government leaders will be protected by land, air and sea patrols and missile batteries.

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