The first sizable protest during the G20 summit got underway Friday afternoon, with at least 2,000 people marching through downtown Toronto streets.

The demonstrators met at Allan Gardens starting at 2 p.m. ET, at the corner of Jarvis Street and Gerrard Street East, to hear speeches and chant slogans.

Shortly afterward, they took to the streets, marching west along nearby Carlton Street.

Protesters were making themselves heard, loudly chanting "Fight the war on the poor! Make the rich pay!" among other slogans.

It’s not clear if their ultimate destination is the downtown core, where a security fence encircles an area that includes the Metro Toronto Convention Centre — the site of the G20 gathering, which officially begins Saturday.

Some of the protesters told CBC News they intend to establish a tent city at a downtown park but did not specify which one.

The protest has been mostly peaceful, although there were a few minor confrontations and skirmishes with police.

The group claims to represent more than two dozen causes, including environmental, economic and labour issues.

Organizer Gaetan Heroux said the group intends to make noise to ensure G20 delegates are aware of their presence.

"The idea is to have at this time a group of world leaders wining and dining in five-star hotels, sleeping very well at nighttime while five minutes away from them, there’s a large group of people who don’t have enough housing and don’t have enough to eat," said Heroux.

"So the idea is to bring the tent city … to remind our politicians and Mr. Harper that what he wants to present to the world is a lie."

There were no reports of arrests.

Credit: cbc.ca