Posted on 06/27/2002 2:56:01 PM PDT by Clive
CALGARY - In the searing downtown heat outside a McDonald's restaurant, an activist named Ifny perched herself in a tree to help defuse a potentially violent confrontation yesterday between police and anti-G8 protesters.
The nimble Ifny, 27, scrambled up the tree to moderate a tense standoff that saw balaclava-wearing anarchists standing toe-to-toe with police on the sidewalk. Ifny's intervention was the most graphic example of how a predominantly non-violent G8 protest movement has been policing itself here this week, drawing praise from G8 security officials.
Non-violent factions also held in check a group of anarchists Tuesday night who attempted to tear down a fence outside a reception for G8 delegates and accredited media.
''In any protest march there are a lot of splinter groups and a small percentage believe in confrontation. What you'll find is that most of the other groups try to calm them down,'' said Charles Parr, a Calgary G8 protester who congratulated Ifny as the crowd dispersed.
''You did an absolutely great job at crowd control,'' he told her after the 15-minute confrontation.
''That could have been the end of us. The longer we can keep people from throwing a brick the better off we're going to be," he said.
Ifny, who identified herself as being ''from all of Canada,'' said she went into action when balaclava-wearing anarchists locked arms and pushed in on a squad of bicycle police that had positioned itself in front of the McDonald's, one of several companies listed as ''targets'' on anti-G8 Web sites.
As photographers and a crowd of several hundred pressed forward, crowd- control foot police, dressed in black, moved in as reinforcements. The bicycle unit hoisted their cycles as shields and pushed the crowd back in what a police spokesman called ''a common, low-key response technique.''
''It was a bit of a pressure cooker,'' said Ifny.
''The anarchist affinity group decided to take an action. There was a lot of rhetoric. I think the police felt they had their backs to the wall. It was a pretty tense situation.''
The incident in front of McDonald's came at the end of a 4 1/2-hour ''snake march'' through downtown streets that until that point had an almost festive atmosphere, as have previous demonstrations this week.
Unlike the balaclava-clad anarchist faction, many peaceful protesters use clever costumes and humour to promote anti-capitalist messages. One woman yesterday dressed as a street-walking ''corporate prostitute.'' The gas- mask-wearing floozy flounced about the crowd under a parasol accompanied by a retinue of mock businessmen dressed in rumpled, second-hand pinstriped suits.
Signs expressed dissent on issues ranging from African debt and cuts to social programs to opposition of George W. Bush's ''demonization'' of Iraq.
The mainstream protesters' etiquette was evident from the start as brigades of volunteers fanned out in advance of about 800 marchers with leaflets apologizing to motorists for delaying their morning commute.
''We feel that if we are going to disrupt people's lives, they have a right to know why,'' said Nancy Peckford, 29, of Ottawa, who dispensed sheets of paper that read: ''Sorry for the inconvenience'' with an explanation of G8 issues from the activists' viewpoint.
Demonstrators left the Fort Calgary historic park at about 7 a.m., flanked by a brigade of Gore-Tex-clad bicycle officers and watched by a police helicopter. Traffic control police kept close contact with march leaders to determine their often random route, which stopped outside ''target'' companies, such as oil corporations, to chant slogans such as ''We want Kyoto now.''
The crowd's first test of civility came when it crossed Calgary's above-ground transit tracks. As crossing arms came down, the 300 or so demonstrators who were cut off waited politely behind the barrier, smiling and waving to passengers on the train.
Most office workers shrugged off the disruption, saying it could have been much worse.
Many stepped into the morning sun to behold spirited -- if slightly mangy -- cheerleaders singing anti-globalist jingles, or self-styled ''anarchist drummers'' pounding on street signs, sewer grates and newspaper boxes.
''I'm really glad to see people can actually get their point across without having to cause violence,'' said Mary Anne Glas, a 41-year-old assistant catering manager.
''This happened last night too.... They're helping each other to make sure the protest didn't get out of hand.''
Even commuters who found themselves surrounded by the crowd reacted with equanimity.
'I'm all right with it,'' said Susan, halted in her grey Mercedes outside the Stock Exchange Tower at 5th Avenue and 2nd Street Southwest. She sat in traffic surrounded by protesters marching on both sides of her car, many of whom flashed her the peace sign and apologized for delaying the start of her day.
''Everyone has a right to express themselves,'' said Susan, who declined to give her last name.
''We're quite pleased with the way the majority of the protesters have conducted themselves,'' said Inspector Al Redford of the Calgary police.
''I noticed that they actually stopped today to allow C-Trains to pass through the crowd. This occurred on Sunday, too, and there was some self-policing last night on behalf of the crowd. All of this assists us," he said.
While police recognize most demonstrators want to protest peacefully, Insp. Redford added, ''historically we also know there'll be a minority element here for less-than-peaceful purposes.
''The challenge is to try to facilitate the peaceful protests while being ready to respond to the possible incidents.''
Ifny complimented police for working with protesters and for restoring personal name tags on the vests of officers.
Many protesters were irked that G8 security officers had no personal identity tags during a march last weekend, which senior officers said was an oversight.
''The police have acted professionally all week and I think it has helped prevent some of the situations we've seen in other cities,'' said Mr. Parr.
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