May Day Rallies Create Tensions

Published: 2 May 2000 y., Tuesday
Anti-capitalist protesters clashed with police Monday in central London, tearing down the golden arches of a McDonald's and spray-painting a hammer and sickle on a statue of Winston Churchill in a May Day protest. In Berlin, a march against ``capitalism and imperialism'' Monday night erupted into violence in the Kreuzberg neighborhood, a stronghold of leftist activism. More than 100 police officers were injured as they used water cannons, tear gas and nightsticks against a crowd of 10,000 anarchists. At least three dozen leftists were arrested. Elsewhere in Europe, the workers who are usually commemorated on May Day took a back seat to the far right, as neo-Nazis rallied in German cities and nationalist parties held demonstrations in France. There were also May Day protests in the United States. Police in riot gear broke up a protest by hundreds of workers rights supporters in downtown Portland, Ore. In Olympia, Wash., several hundred demonstrators blocked one of the city's busiest intersections to protest global corporations. And in New York City, more than 1,000 immigrants protested outside City Hall. The riots erupted in London when a group broke away from a peaceful demonstration held by protesters planting seeds in front of the Houses of Parliament. Demonstrators threw stones and other objects near Prime Minister Tony Blair's official residence at Downing Street, where a dozen officers in riot gear took up positions. The protesters then stormed a nearby branch of McDonald's, breaking windows, tearing down the large ``M'' sign and distributing food.
Šaltinis: Yahoo! News
Copying, publishing, announcing any information from the News.lt portal without written permission of News.lt editorial office is prohibited.

Facebook Comments

New comment


Captcha

Associated articles

The most popular articles

European Protection Order for victims under spotlight by MEPs

Ensuring that women are protected from physical, sexual or psychological abuse if they flee abroad is what lies behind the proposed European Protection Order. more »

Agatha storm lefts thousands homeless

Remnants of Tropical Storm Agatha dumped more rain across Central America, killing at least 73 people in the region, and forcing scores of others to flee their homes. more »

A pained recalling of foot-binding

Ninety-three-year old Lim Guan Siew looks back, with regret, on her experience of the long-dispelled Chinese custom of foot-binding. more »

World No Tobacco Day 2010: the Commission reaffirms its commitment to fight against smoking

Ahead of the 2010 No Tobacco Day (Monday 31st May), the European Commission unveils the results of a Eurobarometer survey which shows that a strong majority of EU citizens support stronger tobacco control measures. more »

Man swims at base of Mount Everest

Enviromentalist and endurance swimmer Lewis Pugh puts his body to the test in thin air and cold water to highlight shrinking glaciers in high mountain ranges. more »

Brazil's Dog Favela

It’s a dog’s life for the 1,500 unwanted strays who spend their days in a slum-like shelters in Brazil’s southern city of Caxias do Sul. more »

Human rights: Thailand, Burma and Pakistan

Three resolutions on the situation in Thailand, the pre-election climate in Burma and religious freedom in Pakistan were adopted by the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Thursday. more »

Chinese schools teach self-defense

Growing numbers of children enroll in kung-fu schools to learn self-defense techniques after a series of school attacks in recent weeks spark wide-spread concern in China. more »

Israeli army: gays "not an issue"

Homosexuality in the military can be a thorny issue around the world, with gay and lesbian soldiers often hiding their sexual preference out of fear. more »

EU seeks rapid ratification of UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

European Commission Vice-President Viviane Reding will urge EU Member States to swiftly ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities during a May 19 Ministers’ meeting in Zaragoza, Spain. more »