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| G-20 Protests Grip Hamburg, and Dozens Are Hurt | G-20 Protests Grip Hamburg, and Dozens Are Hurt |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| HAMBURG — 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. | HAMBURG — 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 huge police presence — hundreds of additional officers were called in after clashes left at least 196 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 left at least 196 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. 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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 the police, who used water cannons to disperse crowds outside of the Elbe Philharmonic Hall where leaders were gathered for a concert and dinner, and later 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 used water cannons to disperse crowds outside of the Elbe Philharmonic Hall where leaders were gathered for a concert and dinner, and later 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 had been formally arrested, the police reported. | By early evening, 70 people had been detained and 15 had been formally arrested, the police reported. |
| Protest groups had vowed to disrupt the summit. While the official program proceeded as planned, protests forced some peripheral events to be canceled. | Protest groups had vowed to disrupt the summit. While the official program proceeded as planned, protests forced some peripheral events to be canceled. |
| First lady Melania Trump scrapped a planned boat ride on the Elbe River after police refused to allow her to leave the guesthouse where she and President Trump are staying, citing concerns for her safety. A planned tour of a climate research facility was canceled because the experts who were to give the tour were unable to get there. | |
| “She was very much looking forward to the day,” Stephanie Grisham, a spokeswoman for Ms. Trump said. | “She was very much looking forward to the day,” Stephanie Grisham, a spokeswoman for Ms. Trump said. |
| In the weeks before the summit meeting, Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany made a point of saying that criticism of the summit 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 summit 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 on 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 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. | 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 cans 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. |
| The police and the protest organizers blamed one another for the violence. 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 the violence. 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 during a Thursday protest, and a riot officer struck him. 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 during a Thursday protest, and a riot officer struck him. His face was bandaged and bruised. |
| “We’re here protesting against inequality, against the few leaders who make decisions for the entire world,” Mr. Kleine said. “We were promised a festival of democracy, and what we are living through is civil war on our streets.” | “We’re here protesting against inequality, against the few leaders who make decisions for the entire world,” Mr. Kleine said. “We were promised a festival of democracy, and what we are living through is civil war on our streets.” |
| Despite the violent skirmishes between a knot of protesters and police, many of the demonstrations remained peaceful. A “critical mass” protest of hundreds of cyclist circled the city in a defiant demonstration against the extreme police presence. | Despite the violent skirmishes between a knot of protesters and police, many of the demonstrations remained peaceful. A “critical mass” protest of hundreds of cyclist circled the city in a defiant demonstration against the extreme police presence. |
| Louise Lotzig, an 18-year-old student wrapped in a rainbow flag, said she was a regular at monthly cycling demonstrations, that are also held independently of the summit. | Louise Lotzig, an 18-year-old student wrapped in a rainbow flag, said she was a regular at monthly cycling demonstrations, that are also held independently of the summit. |
| “With this action, we are requesting the police respect the right of the people to their city and their streets,” the high school student said. | “With this action, we are requesting the police respect the right of the people to their city and their streets,” the high school student said. |
| Even as the cyclists circled the perimeter of the security zone, ringing the bells on their handlebars, a policeman in the Schanzen district fired a warning shot to disperse a group of protesters who were kicking a man on the ground, police said. | Even as the cyclists circled the perimeter of the security zone, ringing the bells on their handlebars, a policeman in the Schanzen district fired a warning shot to disperse a group of protesters who were kicking a man on the ground, police said. |