BLOCKUPY, DAYS OF DIRECT ACTION, FRANKFURT AM MAIN 2013 | STATE VIOLENCE
Despite having been announced and approved for months in advance, the Blockupy march against the European Central Bank barely managed to begin its planned route before it became violently cut off by hundreds of riot police officers into a minor kettled front, including the co-ordinating flatbed, and the rest of the protest, which stretched for thousands of demonstrators behind.
The officers beat and peppersprayed the crowd ad libitum leaving many injured, and denied journalists, paramedics and lawyers entrance or exit.
The individual officers remained silent, when asked for an explanation, and the police HQ offered only the blunt account that any face masking whatsoever would be shown zero tolererance. In principal it meant that even wearing sunglasses could be perceived as reason enough to justify the brutal police interference. Much evidence suggests that the whole police action was staged in advance to create a ‘judicial vacuum’.
As part of their divide and conquer strategy the police offered an alternative route for the march, given that the kettled group would be left behind by the rest of the protesters. Instead of bailing out on their comrades though, people stood for ten hours straight struggling with the surrounding police lines before the kettle finally broke.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-FZHHAro-s
RT:
www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Blockupy+2013&oq…
Blockade of Frankfurt airport in protest against deportations:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fc0LAeeCz5Q
Blockade of Primark – Europe’s largest shoppingmall – in solidarity with the recently deceased Bangladeshi textile workers and all who toil under similar conditions.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDk8N-c7b2Y
