The speakers at the rally were diverse internationally, if not philosophically. They included Walden Bello, an antiglobalist professor at the University of the Philippines and representative in that country's Congress; James Quilligan, economic adviser to former President Jimmy Carter, former Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau and former French President Francois Mitterand; and Anna Pinto, program director of the Center for Organization, Research and Education in northeast India.

Generally, the speakers believe the G-20 controls the global economy on behalf of banks and transnational corporations, at the expense of most citizens.

"The G-20 as a mechanism to save globalization is doomed to fail," Bello said.

Quilligan mocked security preparations, including plans for more than 3,000 police officers downtown, as the "biggest mobilization of security in Pittsburgh history since the French and Indian War."