I Predict a Riot
and I was right!
The inherited wisdom for Zurich Mayday is not to go into town, there are regular demonstrations, that often become violent riots. Red flag, bull. So off I pedalled, camera in hand looking for trouble. It wasn't hard to find, I had two possible locations where I'd heard it was going to kick off and a sea of black clad anarchists greeted me at location #2. At this point I realised I was dressed like a preppy, I could not have stood out more had I went en-femme, however I ingratiated myself by asking if I could take piccies and not trying to take any if the answer was no.
The demo went smoothly enough, just one run in with the forces of law and order at which point the throng diverted as they were meant to and we ended up at the start point again without incident, well almost, as we got back to the square it all started at a government building had it's door kicked in and fireworks thrown in. Then a re-grouping and those looking for a fight kicked of with shocking speed, I ended up running like crazy ducking down streets to try to keep ahead while not getting in the throng, the violence started slowly, a couple of bus shelters getting smashed, then it was shop windows, then cars, then setting fire to cars,
all the while avoiding the police. I ended up back and forth across the police lines, it was actually more dodgy behind the lines because you had to dodge rocks. At one point I was snapping away when I realized I was standing right in front of their next target, a big rock hit the wall behind me and I was on my toes cracking paving slabs as I went to get to safety,
Every one arrived back at the main square again and the police started to move in. I'd never seen rubber bullets fired before and it's a scary sight, the police weren't shy about using them either, they fire in salvoes of about 8, a guy in front of me caught almost a full load in the chest,
Shortly after I saw some heading for me, you can see them coming at you from head on, I ducked one but another got me in the ribs, sore but no worse than a well hit squash ball. Tear gas was next which wasn't as terrible as I expected, like really bad hayfever with added chlorine smell. The protestors were busy pouring water in each others eyes, some were carrying gas masks.
It was a very exciting afternoon and the anarchist in me loved watching the 'kids' rebel but to what end? I wish I could hold a conversation in German I really wanted to sit down and have a chat with them, I bet their aims are laudible but the wonton vandalism was just sad, on the way home I diverted down where the BMW was burned and among the smashed up shops was a Thai takeaway - hey I bet big business really felt that blow.
Also the beemer was being towed away, the glass swept up, one bank was having the glass replaced already, tomorrow I'll cycle past and it will be like it never happend, whats the point?
The inherited wisdom for Zurich Mayday is not to go into town, there are regular demonstrations, that often become violent riots. Red flag, bull. So off I pedalled, camera in hand looking for trouble. It wasn't hard to find, I had two possible locations where I'd heard it was going to kick off and a sea of black clad anarchists greeted me at location #2. At this point I realised I was dressed like a preppy, I could not have stood out more had I went en-femme, however I ingratiated myself by asking if I could take piccies and not trying to take any if the answer was no.
The demo went smoothly enough, just one run in with the forces of law and order at which point the throng diverted as they were meant to and we ended up at the start point again without incident, well almost, as we got back to the square it all started at a government building had it's door kicked in and fireworks thrown in. Then a re-grouping and those looking for a fight kicked of with shocking speed, I ended up running like crazy ducking down streets to try to keep ahead while not getting in the throng, the violence started slowly, a couple of bus shelters getting smashed, then it was shop windows, then cars, then setting fire to cars,
all the while avoiding the police. I ended up back and forth across the police lines, it was actually more dodgy behind the lines because you had to dodge rocks. At one point I was snapping away when I realized I was standing right in front of their next target, a big rock hit the wall behind me and I was on my toes cracking paving slabs as I went to get to safety,
Every one arrived back at the main square again and the police started to move in. I'd never seen rubber bullets fired before and it's a scary sight, the police weren't shy about using them either, they fire in salvoes of about 8, a guy in front of me caught almost a full load in the chest,
Shortly after I saw some heading for me, you can see them coming at you from head on, I ducked one but another got me in the ribs, sore but no worse than a well hit squash ball. Tear gas was next which wasn't as terrible as I expected, like really bad hayfever with added chlorine smell. The protestors were busy pouring water in each others eyes, some were carrying gas masks.
It was a very exciting afternoon and the anarchist in me loved watching the 'kids' rebel but to what end? I wish I could hold a conversation in German I really wanted to sit down and have a chat with them, I bet their aims are laudible but the wonton vandalism was just sad, on the way home I diverted down where the BMW was burned and among the smashed up shops was a Thai takeaway - hey I bet big business really felt that blow.
Also the beemer was being towed away, the glass swept up, one bank was having the glass replaced already, tomorrow I'll cycle past and it will be like it never happend, whats the point?
posted by Gillian at 7:33 PM
2 Comments:
you go to all the best partys!
excellent reporting Gillian.
Should have gone en femme... would have made a great shot for Extreme Crossdressing ;)
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