Unionists demonstrate with a banner reading "Mac Do, social insecurity zone" in front of a McDonald's restaurant, Thursday, Aug. 22, 2019 in Hendaye, southwestern France. The G-7 summit has for the first time co-opted the message of its protesters: Capitalism has led to damaging inequality, hurting the environment also harms the global economy, and a handful of rich countries can't be the only ones making decisions for the world. (AP Photo/Bob Edme)
The Associated Press
PARIS (AP) - The G-7 summit has for the first time co-opted the message of its protesters: Capitalism has led to damaging inequalities and environmental degradation that has harmed the global economy and a handful of rich countries can't be the only ones making decisions for the world.
But thousands of people beginning to camp outside the French coastal resort of Biarritz for G-7 protests are quite skeptical of the new messengers. For 20 years, international summits have attracted protesters with a range of tactics and a message against globalization.
France has deployed more than 13,000 police to protect this year's gathering. The interior minister says he doesn't want a repeat of the 1999 protests of the World Trade Organization summit, which became known as the "Battle of Seattle."
French activist Adele Lepoutre wears a sweeter reading "Stop discrimination" during a demonstration outside of a McDonald's restaurant, Thursday, Aug. 22, 2019 in Hendaye, southwestern France. The G-7 summit has for the first time co-opted the message of its protesters: Capitalism has led to damaging inequality, hurting the environment also harms the global economy, and a handful of rich countries can't be the only ones making decisions for the world. (AP Photo/Bob Edme)
The Associated Press
People walk next to tents set up in a camping site Thursday, Aug. 22, 2019, in Urrugne, southwestern France. Various groups of protesters are setting up camps at towns near to the Spanish border, as they prepare for G7 protest actions during the Aug. 24-26 gathering of major world democracies. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
The Associated Press
An activist wearing a sweeter reading "Stop discrimination" holds a home-made hamburger during a demonstration outside of a McDonald's restaurant, Thursday, Aug. 22, 2019 in Hendaye, southwestern France. The G-7 summit has for the first time co-opted the message of its protesters: Capitalism has led to damaging inequality, hurting the environment also harms the global economy, and a handful of rich countries can't be the only ones making decisions for the world. (AP Photo/Bob Edme)
The Associated Press