Helicopters and armored vehicles patrolled the streets of Hamburg, as Germany’s second-
largest city braced for hardening protests with the arrival of world leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, for the Group of 20 summit.
Anti-capitalist activists have organized a “Welcome to Hell” demonstration to be held early today [Macau time] in the St. Pauli district, a bastion of left-wing activity for decades. Police estimate about 10,000 protesters are likely to attend.
Hamburg’s 1.7 million residents have largely vacated the center, with legions of armored police – more than 15,000 drawn from across the country – fanned out across the port city. Some businesses closed their doors and a number of store owners tried to protect themselves by displaying anti-G-20 messages in their windows, with the hope they’ll be spared in the event of a riot. German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere estimates that the number of protesters prepared to use violence stands at about 8,000.
As leaders arrive for the gathering hosted by German Chancellor Angela Merkel that begins today, protest organizers are pledging “various and unpredictable mass resistance” as they make their way close to the summit venue this evening.
As G-20 leaders haggle over geo-political issues including trade and climate change, police said some 30 protest events have been organized. A group called Block G-20 pledges to disrupt the meeting by using diversionary tactics against police, everything from marches to dancing and street theater. Primary targets for disruption are the summit venue, Hamburg’s City Hall and the Elbphilharmonie concert hall.
Another organization said it will seek to shut down commercial activity in Hamburg’s port, an export hub for Germany’s largest economy that itself is reliant on global trade.
Protests will culminate tomorrow with a demonstration that organizers hope will draw as many as 100,000. It will begin at 11 am at Hamburg’s main train station. Bloomberg
