An anonymous group of G-20 protesters calling themselves the Pittsburgh G-20 Resistance Project published a list of local businesses, community organizations and research facilities that they’ve identified as “places where oppression and injustice exist on a daily basis.”  The Resistance Project is encouraging affinity groups and other organizations to select places on this list for “protests and other actions” on the morning of Friday Sept. 25^th and is specifying that all protests should end by 11:30 a.m.

            Neither the Resistance Project nor anyone else requested permits for these protests so local businesses and other institutions targeted on the list have found out haphazardly or not at all. Ernest Hogan, Deputy Director of East Liberty Development Inc., said that he found out when a friend sent them an email with the list attached. The Resistance Project hasn’t provided any reasons for why businesses are on the list but Mr. Hogan suspects that East Liberty Development is being targeted because it’s perceived as gentrifying East Liberty. Mr. Hogan said that the rationale for targeting East Liberty Development is suspect because “our whole mission is empowering the people.”  East Liberty Development has built 500 units of affordable housing, brought $200 million in investments to the neighborhood and created 900 jobs — 40 percent of which went to residents — Mr. Hogan said. Businesses such as Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods that East Liberty Development helped bring to the neighborhood – businesses Mr. Hogan identified as “great stewards” of the community - are also on the list. Mr. Hogan said that they’ve talked to other businesses in the area and have met with local police, who are aware of the situation. In spite of the threat of protests and other disruptions, Mr. Hogan said, “we are not going to shut down our office because we don’t feel that we should.

But Shadyside X, a 24/7 gym that also appears on the list of targets, has modified its hours in order to protect its patrons and will be closing between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. Wednesday and Thursday night, the gym’s president, John Byrnes, said. Mr. Byrnes said that he made the decision to close the gym at night after the police told him that his gym was on the Resistance Project’s list. Mr. Byrnes said that he’s also hired extra security for the duration of the G-20 and installed anti-shatter film on the gym’s windows. “I wonder if I should send the bill to Ravenstahl,” Mr. Byrnes said. He said he doesn’t know why protesters would target his gym but he doesn’t think it’s because of the racy advertising that has caused him problems in the past. Whatever the reason, Mr. Byrnes said that he’s worried about the safety of his patrons and concerned by the possibility of vandalism. Mr. Byrnes wants to know who will pay for the damage if local businesses are vandalized. “It seems like [the G-20] is a headache for a lot of small businesses.”

          Whereas Mr. Byrnes had known for weeks that his business was on a list of protest targets, the staff of the Oakland Planning and Development Corporation was never notified of its position on the list and didn’t find out until BLACK AND WHITE requested comment on the issue. Wanda Wilson, the organization’s executive director, said, “it’s sort of funny that we would be on a protest list.” She said that her company focuses on creating affordable housing and affordable rentals for low-income people – activities that Ms. Wilson wouldn’t expect to be protested during the G-20 Summit.

            Asked why G-20 protesters would target her organization, Ms. Wilson said that her organization’s funding might be at issue. The Oakland Planning and Development Corporation receives funding from PNC Bank – another local business targeted by protesters – as well as state and local governments. But Ms. Wilson is only guessing that funding might be the issue and ultimately, she said, she “just can’t understand why they would spend their time [protesting her organization].”  Ms. Wilson said that she and her organization will be taking extra security precautions and that the office will be staying open during the G-20 Summit. Ms. Wilson said she thinks keeping the office open will help prevent vandalism during any possible protests but she said that their offices are relative secure unlike more vulnerable targets such as Starbucks that are open to the public.

            Whether by staying open to prevent vandalism, working with local police or installing anti-shatter film on windows, local businesses targeted by G-20 protesters are taking steps to protect their employees and customers. Businesses on this list found out about it haphazardly and are not all sure why they are being targeted. Identified as “places where oppression and injustice exist on a daily basis,” the list features a diverse selection of Pittsburgh businesses and institutions including community development groups, banks, research institutes and grocery stores. Some of them have modified their hours for the Summit or have decided to close down entirely but many will continue to provide services to their community regardless of threats from anonymous organizations.

The Pittsburgh G-20 Resistance protesters list