Protest Against World Economic Forum In Switzerland

"January 31st - It was a cold and cloudy afternoon in Geneva when people began assembling on the Rue du Mont Blanc not far from the central train station. Despite a decree issued by the city council a week beforehand banning the protest, between 1000 and 2000 activists showed up nevertheless to express their opposition to the 2009 World Economic Forum, symbol of capitalism and corporate globalization, currently being held in the ski resort town of Davos.

Fearing a renewal of the riots and sabotage that had afflicted the city's commercial district during the 2003 protests against the G8, the Geneva general council, in addition to declaring the protest illegal, had also called in a massive number of police officers, including agents from neighboring France and Germany, to monitor the city centre and train station as well as incoming trains. In spite of these intimidation tactics, including I.D. checks, searches, and even preventative arrests of suspicious persons, by 2pm a significant crowd of well over a thousand had already assembled. The crowd itself was fairly diverse, comprising a good balance of both young and old, with significant number of labor unionists, Marxists, and anarchists being distinguishable. Although it was not the 5000 predicted by some local newspapers, the atmosphere was still both festive and radical.

After an hour or so of speeches by several labor, anti-capitalist, and community organizers, including one former city councilman who described the WEF summit as "ball of capitalist vampires" to great applause, organizers proceeded to enter into discussions with the chief of police in hopes of renewing their request for permission to march along a proposed route.

The police, who had declared themselves tolerant of the assembly as long as it remained where it was, refused permission, although they did agree to release those who had already been arrested while on route to the protest.

Following this, organizers showed themselves to be split over which course of action to follow next, with some calling for a dispersal of the crowd while others called for people to march anyway. After about 20 minutes of indecision, it was ultimately the crowd itself which took the initiative as it began to slowly make its way along the route initially planned. By this time, a fairly large black block of about 250, possibly more, had emerged from the midst of the crowd and made their way to the front of the march. Several chants could be heard, including "Police Partout, Justice Nul Part" (Police everywhere, Justice Nowhere) and "One Solution: Revolution!" A surge of excitement and anticipation could be felt as protestors approached a line of cops in riot gear who stood blocking the way, a mere 50 meters from where the march had started. As we stood off face to face, a dozen or so demonstrators began to taunt police and throw beer bottles.

As the crowd moved even closer, police (who had until this point showed themselves restrained) suddenly drew their batons and began beating people back; two concussion grenades were also tossed. We managed to stand our ground and began to march back. The response this time was tear gas, which succeeded in dispersing everyone for awhile. After this, the majority of the older folks left, leaving the streets to the younger and more militant groups, who proceeded to reassemble in small cluster. From here militants began playing games of cat and mouse with the cops, spreading themselves throughout the city center. Police used primarily tear gas as well as water canons in their attempts to disperse protestors, although there have been several reports of hand to hand confrontations as well.

It was only 3 hours later that the last of the militants were either dispersed or arrested, allowing calm to return to the city. Surprisingly and to the movement's credit, not a single storefront or car was destroyed in the entire time despite ample opportunities, as black blockers made it clear that their fight was with the cops. Although this fact probably won't manage to improve our image in the eyes of the local populace, it did succeed in countering the arguments of those who had predicted that the people who would attend the protest would do so only for the sake of inciting vandalism. The 3 hours of unrest did manage to temporarily disrupt business as usual downtown, with most of the public transportation being suspended, as well as forcing many stores to close early. No injuries have been reported on either side, although one woman unaffiliated with the demonstration was apparently taken to the hospital after inhaling too much gas.

At the end of the day, 130 people were arrested, all of which have been released except 4 who will probably have to stand trial for "disturbing the peace." An action will most likely be planned sometime in the following week in solidarity with these 4."

ORIGINAL SOURCE: Infoshop News