Protests against the new European Central Bank headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany turned violent this week, when police clashed with a variety of groups who gathered to oppose the central bank and its involvement in the European political system.
“What we’re seeing, I think, in Frankfurt is a reaction you see across the eurozone for many people who have said it’s just been too painful, too much, and it’s been going for too long,” CNN’s Jim Boulden said.
Hundreds of people were arrested and detained and hundreds more were injured on both sides of the barricades.
Police used water cannons on protesters who reportedly fought back with pepper spray and other weapons. Police cars were set on fire and some people who were with the protesters sought out fights with police. The possibility of agent provocateurs in the crowd has not been ruled out.
A spokesperson for “Blockupy”, one of the groups involved with the protests, said that they do not condone violence.
“Blockupy is clearly against violence. Obviously, there are people that go against what we intended for this day. It is not what we planned, but it shows people are very angry about the austerity policies,” Blockupy spokesperson Frauke Distelrath said.
John Vibes writes for True Activist and is an author, researcher and investigative journalist who takes a special interest in the counter culture and the drug war.
