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Today I attended the largest of the anti-APEC protest rallies to hit the streets of Sydney. Estimates of attendees [2] have been put between 3,000 to 10,000, with 6,000 being the most likely number.
 

Not Happy John - mums and dads on the streets of Sydney

The march was peaceful and virtually without incident. Marching from Town Hall down to Hyde Park, the procession was slow but boisterous. The protesters were comprised mainly of students, and mums and dads, standing in stark contrast to the police force that was on display. During the walk I kept flicking my gaze skyward, running my eyes across the rooftops looking for snipers and spotters, as has been reported. More than once I noticed people looking down at us. When they saw me looking, they quickly popped back out of sight. It was a comforting thought knowing that there were probably a half-dozen high-powered sniper rifles aimed at us at any one time.

The police message was clear: intimidation through overwhelming force. Police put the protest numbers at 3,000 while stating their own force numbered at 3,500. Their demeanour was cold, unhelpful, and overtly dismissive - most likely under orders not to engage with protesters in order to maintain the tangible power distinction. As the protest moved down George Street, an enormous convoy of police consisting riot trucks, attack dogs, the expensive new water cannon, and rows of riot police formed behind us.

Show of force 

The display was completely unnecessary given the bulk of the crowd was a kilometre further down the street - a stunt designed to intimidate, remaining just long enough for the media to swarm, then pulling back out of sight. Individual riot officers then spread out across the streets, taking up position in visible locations - a potent reminder of what force lay in wait should it be needed.

Sydney's new $700,000 Water cannon 

Pointing out the oxymoron painted on the side of the water cannon vehicles, "Public Order & Riot Squad", some of the media around me chuckled. It is understandable when the police may display this attitude towards provocative fringe groups, those that would hurl abuse at them, but the police's animosity was so intense and unilaterally applied that the comments coming from everyday mum and dads would shame those that condoned these actions.

The funniest protester sign of the day

At one point I saw a group of people being barrelled across the street, a middle aged, slender Asian man dressed in normal clothes was pushed over backwards repeatedly as the police decided to close a side street. It was clear the man was just walking along and accidentally got caught up in something. Things became tense as I was suddenly stuck between the line of advancing police, and those behind me that wouldn't let me get out of the way. Within about 30 seconds I was in a crowd of jostling people. I smiled, as recollections of my younger mosh pit days came to mind. With my parkour training I never felt in any danger, but I feared for those around me less able to withstand the shoving. With my hands in the air I made it clear to the police behind me that I was not engaging.

The police used specially fitted anti-riot buses to block off streets and control the demonstration.

While I certainly didn't support the overly forceful display, I did not agree with those that cursed the police, all of these people are somebody's fathers, mothers, brothers, sons and daughters, all just doing their job regardless of their political opinions to support their own families.

As we reached Hyde Park the police became overly controlling, blocking off street corner opposite the entry by not allowing people to stand on the road or the footpath. A few hundred people were stuck on a small corner of footpath arguing with police about where they were supposed to stand. They weren't allowed to head back south to leave the demonstration, nor could they cross the road to Hyde Park; all other passages had been previously blocked. After about 15 minutes the conflicting police orders were finally resolved and they allowed us to move.

Police block off entry and exit to Hyde Park for 30 minutes, trapping those inside 

The messages put forward by the various interest groups were varied, however only a handful of issues united the crowd in chorus: the Bush - Howard relationship, the Iraq war, APEC in Sydney, and the environment. The remaining issues were often too complex or too fringe to appeal to the mainstream crowd. I think it was this fact that was most impressive - that the people that lined the streets of Sydney today weren't radicals pushing for a socialist revolution, but everyday citizens from across the spectrum annoyed at the disruption of their lives for a political stunt, at the lies over Iraq, at the ignorance and selling-out of the environment, and the lackey dog relationship Australia now has with the United States.

My attendance at the rally today wasn't in opposition to the APEC forum, in principal I support the forum and Paul Keating in helping establish it. I walked today for the same reasons as everyone else.

At the end of the day, I am pleased that report both the police and the protesters kept their emotions in check. Aside from the minor scuffle earlier, I saw no incidents of violence throughout the day.