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G-20 Protests Grip Hamburg, and Dozens are Hurt G-20 Protests Grip Hamburg, and Dozens Are Hurt
(35 minutes later)
HAMBURG, Germany — More than 10,000 protesters took to the streets of Hamburg again on Friday to vent their anger at the Group of 20 summit and the global political and economic system. HAMBURG, Germany — More than 10,000 protesters took to the streets of Hamburg again on Friday to vent their anger at the Group of 20 summit meeting and the global political and economic system.
And once again, they were met with a massive police presence — hundreds of additional officers were called in after clashes on Thursday left 111 officers and dozens of protesters injured. And once again, they were met with a huge police presence — hundreds of additional officers were called in after clashes on Thursday left 111 officers and dozens of protesters injured.
It started early in the day: There were sit-down protests under a rainbow display of umbrellas. Students marched, calling for social justice. And some people took to a fleet of rubber boats, demanding solidarity with refugees.It started early in the day: There were sit-down protests under a rainbow display of umbrellas. Students marched, calling for social justice. And some people took to a fleet of rubber boats, demanding solidarity with refugees.
Protesters were soon engaged in a cat-and-mouse game with the police, who lined city streets to block off the areas where gatherings were taking place.Protesters were soon engaged in a cat-and-mouse game with the police, who lined city streets to block off the areas where gatherings were taking place.
About 350 people tried to break through one police line, but were pushed back with pepper spray and billy clubs, the Hamburg police said. Another group threw improvised firebombs and stones at a police van, they said. About 350 people tried to break through one police line, but they were pushed back with pepper spray and billy clubs, the Hamburg police said. Another group threw improvised firebombs and stones at a police van, they said.
As the afternoon wore on, demonstrators clad in black clashed repeatedly with police, who moved water cannons into place in the St. Pauli district. Helicopters circled and curious onlookers milled about on bicycles and on foot in streets that were closed to traffic. As the afternoon wore on, demonstrators clad in black clashed repeatedly with the police, who moved water cannons into place in the St. Pauli district. Helicopters circled and curious onlookers milled about on bicycles and on foot in streets that were closed to traffic.
By early evening, 70 people had been detained and 15 formally arrested, the police reported. By early evening, 70 people had been detained and 15 had been formally arrested, the police reported.
In the weeks before the summit, Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany made a point of saying that criticism of the G-20 was a legitimate expression of democracy, and her government said it wanted to show that a thriving democracy could withstand protests. In the weeks before the summit meeting, Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany made a point of saying that criticism of the G-20 was a legitimate expression of democracy, and her government said it wanted to show that a thriving democracy could withstand protests.
But to the people of Hamburg and the thousands of leftist and anticapitalist activists who call the city home, the decision to hold the meeting there, behind a cordon of 20,000 police officers summoned from across Germany and its European neighbors, was a provocation from the beginning.But to the people of Hamburg and the thousands of leftist and anticapitalist activists who call the city home, the decision to hold the meeting there, behind a cordon of 20,000 police officers summoned from across Germany and its European neighbors, was a provocation from the beginning.
“Nobody wanted the summit here,” said Christoph Kleine, of Interventionistische Linke, which organized displays of civil disobedience on Friday. Residents, he said, were never asked.“Nobody wanted the summit here,” said Christoph Kleine, of Interventionistische Linke, which organized displays of civil disobedience on Friday. Residents, he said, were never asked.
He and other activists from some 160 organizations spent months organizing rallies, protests and acts of civil disobedience against what they viewed it as a blatant display of power from above.He and other activists from some 160 organizations spent months organizing rallies, protests and acts of civil disobedience against what they viewed it as a blatant display of power from above.
Ms. Merkel hoped to show leaders of G-20 countries where protests are routinely quashed, like Turkey and Russia, how they could be allowed to take place peacefully, in keeping with the country’s Constitution. Though the police tried to keep protesters from setting up camps in public parks, a policy that was challenged in court, many other kinds of demonstrations have been registered and allowed to take place.Ms. Merkel hoped to show leaders of G-20 countries where protests are routinely quashed, like Turkey and Russia, how they could be allowed to take place peacefully, in keeping with the country’s Constitution. Though the police tried to keep protesters from setting up camps in public parks, a policy that was challenged in court, many other kinds of demonstrations have been registered and allowed to take place.
“I know that the political agenda of such summits also have their critics; from the point of view of a democracy, that is a good thing,” Ms. Merkel told Parliament in June. “It goes without saying that such peaceful criticism is protected by the Constitution. But, I stress, it must be peaceful.”“I know that the political agenda of such summits also have their critics; from the point of view of a democracy, that is a good thing,” Ms. Merkel told Parliament in June. “It goes without saying that such peaceful criticism is protected by the Constitution. But, I stress, it must be peaceful.”
Andy Grote, Hamburg’s interior minister, said Friday, “The police will be able to handle the situation.” Andy Grote, Hamburg’s interior minister, said on Friday, “The police will be able to handle the situation.”
Organizers handed out maps showing the planned routes of the two biggest demonstrations — one on Thursday night called “Welcome to Hell,” timed for when leaders would be gathering in the city, and one at the close of the summit on Saturday called “Solidarity for All.” With the organizers anticipating trouble, the maps bore a warning: “Take enough water and a first-aid kit with you – and don’t wear contact lenses,” in case the police used tear gas or pepper spray. Organizers handed out maps showing the planned routes of the two biggest demonstrations — one on Thursday night called “Welcome to Hell,” timed for when leaders would be gathering in the city, and one at the close of the summit meeting on Saturday called “Solidarity for All.” With the organizers anticipating trouble, the maps bore a warning: “Take enough water and a first-aid kit with you — and don’t wear contact lenses,” in case the police used tear gas or pepper spray.
The demonstrations were meant to be peaceful, but some did not stay that way. The police said windows were smashed and dozens of cars and trash bins were set on fire Thursday night, and water cannons and tear gas were used to control unruly crowds. The demonstrations were meant to be peaceful, but some did not stay that way. The police said windows were smashed and dozens of cars and trash cans were set on fire Thursday night, and water cannons and tear gas were used to control unruly crowds.
Kathia von Roth, an activist from Hamburg with the Alles für Allen movement — Everything for Everyone — was among the estimated 12,000 protesters who took part in a major demonstration Thursday night, but she left quickly when it started to turn violent.Kathia von Roth, an activist from Hamburg with the Alles für Allen movement — Everything for Everyone — was among the estimated 12,000 protesters who took part in a major demonstration Thursday night, but she left quickly when it started to turn violent.
She said she and other members from her movement had broken off from the main march to reach out to others in the streets, reminding them of the reasons that drew them to protest in the first place.She said she and other members from her movement had broken off from the main march to reach out to others in the streets, reminding them of the reasons that drew them to protest in the first place.
“We can’t lose sight of why all of this has happened,” Ms. von Roth said. “This is about the refusal to accept the capitalist system represented by the G-20 powers. It is about solidarity and support for one another.”“We can’t lose sight of why all of this has happened,” Ms. von Roth said. “This is about the refusal to accept the capitalist system represented by the G-20 powers. It is about solidarity and support for one another.”
The police and the protest organizers blamed one another for starting the trouble on Thursday. The police said that masked protesters had disobeyed orders to uncover their faces; demonstrators said the police had provoked them.The police and the protest organizers blamed one another for starting the trouble on Thursday. The police said that masked protesters had disobeyed orders to uncover their faces; demonstrators said the police had provoked them.
The police “charged us, because some people were wearing masks,” said Camille Makhno, a protester dressed in all black – the style of a group called the Black Bloc that announced before the demonstration began that its members would resort to violence if they felt threatened. Mr. Makhno said he had refused to disperse, and a riot officer struck him around the waist and face. His face was bandaged and bruised. The police “charged us, because some people were wearing masks,” said Camille Makhno, a protester dressed in all black — the style of a group called the Black Bloc that announced before the demonstration began that its members would resort to violence if they felt threatened. Mr. Makhno said he had refused to disperse, and a riot officer struck him around the waist and face. His face was bandaged and bruised.
“We’re anticapitalists,” he said. “We’re here protesting against inequality, against the few leaders who make decisions for the entire world. “We’re anticapitalists,” he said. “We’re here protesting against inequality, against the few leaders who make decisions for the entire world.”
Mr. Kleine of the civil disobedience group said, “We were promised a festival of democracy, and what we are living through is civil war on our streets.”Mr. Kleine of the civil disobedience group said, “We were promised a festival of democracy, and what we are living through is civil war on our streets.”