GERMANY: Over 1,000 anti-capitalist "Blockupy" protesters start to tent-up in Frankfurt

Record ID: 861855

  • Title: GERMANY: Over 1,000 anti-capitalist "Blockupy" protesters start to tent-up in Frankfurt
  • Date: 18th May 2012
  • Summary: PROTESTERS DANCING PAN ACROSS CROWD IN SQUARE OUTSIDE CHURCH YOUNG MAN HOLDING UP COPY OF GERMAN CONSTITUTION / OTHERS HOLDING UP COPIES
  • Embargoed: 2nd June 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Germany
  • City:
  • Country: Germany
  • Topics: Economy,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA85ZSA7YUQ9GAYZ46DUBKGC5BA
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: More than 1,000 anti-capitalist "Blockupy" demonstrators in Germany's financial capital Frankfurt went against an assembly ban on Thursday (May 17) to protest against European governments' euro debt crisis policies.
    Protesters gathered in the city's historic "Roemer" square outside city hall were setting up tents while a few hundred yards (metres) away, hundreds of people chanted "anti-capitalista" as police in riot gear were standing by.
    Several demonstrations organised by occupy movement sympathisers scheduled for Thursday were all banned by local courts after the city of Frankfurt expressed concern over possible riots. Police were expected to descend on the protesters later in the day to enforce the ban.
    German singer Konstantin Wecker was among the protesters gathered outside Paulskirche church and said he had been told not to sing.
    "I am here in support of the occupy movement because I believe that something has to finally happen, that there must be resistance in order to save democracy."
    "I currently see how necessary it is to save democracy which is apparently about to be undermined: never before have I been told I was not allowed to sing," said Wecker who has received numerous German awards and began his career in 1968.
    On Friday, occupy sympathisers are planning to move block access to the headquarters of Deutsche Bank in Frankfurt.
    On Saturday, police are bracing for up to 40,000 demonstrators to descend on the city.
    Up to 2,000 of them have a potential to turn violent, according to police who are planning to have some 5,000 officers from across Germany in place.
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