Berlins Peaceful protests

[Ripsnort]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A64719-2003May1.html

World Marks May Day, Violence Flares in Berlin

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Reuters
Thursday, May 1, 2003; 9:39 AM



By Erik Kirschbaum

BERLIN (Reuters) - German riot police clashed with rock-throwing demonstrators in Berlin and violence was expected in other European capitals at rallies marking the May Day holiday Thursday.

Hundreds of thousands of workers and protesters took part in largely peaceful May Day rallies round the world, though scuffles were reported and some demonstrations on the public holiday included criticism of the U.S.-led war on Iraq.

Authorities in London, Berlin and some other capitals were ready for disturbances after past protests turned violent.

Berlin police were out in force, with some 7,500 on city streets braced for battles with anarchists after 27 police officers and an unknown number of assailants and bystanders were injured in three hours of clashes overnight.

"It's quiet right now, but it's possible there will be further violence," said Berlin police spokesman Ralph Gizinski.

The violence erupted without warning toward the end of a peaceful protest by about 4,000 people in the Mauerpark, in the Prenzlauer Berg district where the Berlin Wall stood.

A group of 200 anarchists hurled bottles and rocks and shot fireworks at police, who charged the group, arresting 97 of them. Violence in the area lasted three hours, with street barricades set ablaze and some shop windows smashed.

The German capital has been marred by May Day clashes between anarchists and police every year since 1987. Last year rampaging youths caused extensive damage, setting luxury cars and bus shelters on fire.

LONDON BRACED FOR VIOLENCE

In London, radical anti-capitalist activists had a hit list of more than 50 "companies of mass destruction" in their sights in protests that police feared could turn violent.

Anarchist groups published the names and addresses of the establishments -- oil companies, arms manufacturers, banks and multinationals -- on various Internet sites.

Police mobilized 4,000 officers in the British capital to guard against violence. Organizers hoped mass anti-war rallies earlier this year would give impetus to the May Day events.

"The anti-war movement has not lost its puff," said Andrew Burgin of the Stop the War Coalition. "People are still angry over Iraq."

Two years ago, in the worst May Day violence in Britain of recent times, masked protesters rioted in London, defacing the Cenotaph war memorial, trashing a shop and burning cars.

In Switzerland, police in Berne used water cannon to keep some 300 demonstrators from entering a government-controlled weapons company. The protesters were calling for a ban on arms exports from neutral Switzerland.

In Zurich police said 7,000 people marched peacefully to condemn the war in Iraq and criticize 'fat cat' managers who draw huge pay packets while the global economy stutters.

"Yesterday Afghanistan, Today Iraq, Tomorrow ... ?" read one banner carried by protesters who marched through Switzerland's financial capital to a lakeside rally in brilliant sunshine.

[OIO]

must be all those greasy BigMacs theyve been fed by the evil yankee imperialists.

For sure.

[Curval]

US Propaganda.

There is no violence in Germany...its just plain rediculous.

[boxboy28]

Question is is BLITZ and anarchists?

[Udie]

Originally posted by boxboy28
Question is is BLITZ and anarchists?

 He's probably in jail right now

[P. Wolfowitz]

He, he, just found this post .

Nah, that is nothing political, it's just culture. Kids try to perform the Watts riots as real as possible.

They take bicycles and tie it around little phon houses made of glass. Then they take some beer for free from supermarkets. When the feeling rises after some cans of beer some cars have to burn.

At last they pick up stones and voila,there's a 5 hour battle with the police.

Police is US cavalery, kids are the indians.

Only reason it has to be done again every year is because it's not realistic enough to look like real Watts riots.

Indians always forget their guns


Regards P. Wolfowitz

[Saurdaukar]

Originally posted by P. Wolfowitz

 Then they take some beer for free from supermarkets. When the feeling rises after some cans of beer some cars have to burn.

 

Simple, yet striking explanation.  I like it!  

[P. Wolfowitz]

Originally posted by Saurdaukar
Simple, yet striking explanation.  I like it!  

They are like flies, impossible to stop that if the wheather is fine....""""§§$§T&&/&)=&(/$&(?`?==``=)(?=())))%&%§ ;-D


Regards P. Wolfowitz aka Blitz

[Animal]

Originally posted by P. Wolfowitz
Then they take some beer for free from supermarkets. When the feeling rises after some cans of beer some cars have to burn.

At last they pick up stones and voila,there's a 5 hour battle with the police.




Regards P. Wolfowitz

Intriguing. Do tell me more of this party you describe.

[Airhead]

Free beer in Germany???? WOO HOO!! I'm SO there!!!