Protests in San Francisco against world leaders

Demonstrations against use of force to move protesters. File pic

Activists protesting corporate profits, environmental abuses, poor working conditions and the Israel-Hamas war are among those planning to march in downtown San Francisco on Sunday, united in their opposition to a global trade summit that will bring leaders from nearly two dozen countries, including U.S. President Joe Biden.

Protests are expected throughout this week's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders' conference, which could draw more than 20,000 attendees, including hundreds of international journalists. The No to APEC coalition, made up of more than 100 grassroots groups, says trade deals struck at summits such as APEC exploit workers and their families.

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It's unlikely world leaders will even glimpse the protests given the strict security zones accessible only to attendees at the Moscone Center conference hall and other summit sites. But Suzanne Ali, an organiser for the Palestinian Youth Movement, says the US government needs to be held to account for supplying weapons to Israel in its war against Hamas. "Even if they cannot see us, as we're mobilizing and marching together, they will know that we're out there," she said.