Disruptive protests going to escalate, activists say

TORONTO, Ont. – Anti-summit activists are vowing to escalate their protests ahead of the gathering of world leaders this weekend.

Torontonians can expect more disruptions in the streets as the G20 summit draws closer.

Activists with the Toronto Community Mobilization Network are expected to gather at Yonge and Queen streets in downtown Toronto at 4:30 p.m. ET Tuesday.

Demonstrators will be focusing on equal rights for women, people with disabilities and the gay, lesbian and transgendered community.

The network said it is planning a large protest on Friday in the downtown area.

The group said it will not condemn any front-line violence.

“We don’t tell activists what to do, many communities respond in their own way,” Sharmeen Khan with the Community Mobilization Network said. “What we’re doing is talking about the issues and why people are on the streets, but there’s hundreds of different communities involved with the resistance.”

Activists with the group said week-long protests are the only way to get their message across. They said they are tired of being ignored.

“The only way we can get our message across is by disrupting things, if that’s the only way that they’ll pay attention […],” another activist said.

The network said police need to back off and stop using scare tactics and outnumbering protesters at demonstrations.

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