G-20 protesters dial it down

LONDON — Instead of police clashes and window smashing, there were peaceful marches and street theater. Violent confrontations and attacks on bank workers failed to materialize at the G-20 economic summit Thursday.

Outside the complex where the Group of 20 world leaders met, police seemed to outnumber protesters at times. While some 120 people were arrested over the last two days, and some windows were broken Wednesday at a Bank of Scotland branch, the demonstrations Thursday were easily controlled.

Experts believe the anti-globalization protest leaders concluded that a time of high economic anxiety was not the right time to challenge police to a fight on the streets of London.

"The organizations that are involved in the protest are thinking that there's more to gain from a peaceful demonstration," said Rory McVeigh, a University of Notre Dame professor who edits Mobilization, an academic magazine about protest. "There's that critical mass of protesters that sense that this is a good opportunity to have your voice heard, but not a good time for violence."

He said the widespread popularity of President Barack Obama also dampened enthusiasm for open warfare with police because few people blame Obama for the global economic crisis.

"There are advantages to having public opinion on your side," he said, suggesting that the protest leaders felt turning to violence would cost them support at a time when there is a belief that US policies are likely to change.

In addition, he said, anti-globalization groups, which believe that uncontrolled capitalism is benefiting rich countries by exploiting poor ones, are better organized, making it easier for leaders to control the violent fringe that seeks confrontations at all costs.

Things were not so quiet in Strasbourg, France, Thursday where a NATO summit meeting was scheduled for Friday. Police clashed with nearly 1,000 protesters as they attempted to enter the city center. At least 12 people were arrested, police said.

The largely peaceful demonstrations in London provided a strong contrast with events in Genoa in July 2001 when roughly 100,000 protesters disrupted the G-8 summit. A small group turned violent, torching cars, smashing windows of stores and banks and hurling paving stones and bottles at police, who used tear gas and clubs to battle back. One person died when he was shot by police as he rushed a police Jeep.

The London protests were also far more peaceful than demonstrations at the 1999 World Trade Organization meeting in Seattle.