Anti-Greed Protests Spread and Fortify
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Anti-greed protests spread and fortify http://www.afr.com/p/world/anti_greed_protests_spread_and_fortify_... Anti-greed protests spread and fortify PUBLISHED: 17 Oct 2011 PRINT EDITION: 17 Oct 2011 A US army veteran has his say at a protest in Los Angeles. Photo: Reuters Rachel Donadio Rome Buoyed by the longevity of the Occupy Wall Street encampment in New York, a wave of protests swept across Asia, the Americas and Europe with hundreds, and in some cases thousands, of people expressing discontent with the economic tides in marches, rallies and occasional clashes with police. In Rome, a rally thick with tension included small groups of violent young people who turned a largely peaceful protest into a riot, setting fire to at least one building and a police van and clashing with police officers. In other European cities, including Berlin and London, Saturday’s demonstrations were largely peaceful, with thousands of people marching past ancient monuments and gathering in front of capitalist symbols like the European Central Bank in Frankfurt. Elsewhere, the turnout was more modest, but rallies of a few hundred people were held in cities including Tokyo and Hong Kong. Protests also continued in New York and were held in several other cities in the United States and Canada. At least 74 people were arrested in New York, including 24 accused of trespassing in a Greenwich Village branch of Citibank and 45 during a raucous rally of thousands of people in and around Times Square. In Sydney, about 200 protesters set up camp outside the Reserve Bank of Australia in Martin Place on Saturday, launching a day of “global revolution” against corporate excess. But as night fell, police moved among them, removing tents, mattresses and other gear. Despite the setback protesters intend to stay indefinitely. The behaviour of the Occupy Sydney protesters has been praised by police. “Everyone has been well-behaved,” a police spokeswoman said. Several protesters were arrested, including one man in his 20s who had chained himself to a rubbish truck. The worldwide protests were united in frustration with the widening gap between rich and poor. “I have no problem with capitalism. I have no problem with a market economy. But I find the way the financial system is functioning deeply unethical,” Herbert Haberl, 51, said in Berlin. “We shouldn’t bail out the banks. We should bail out the people.” Tens of thousands of protesters assembled in Madrid on Saturday evening, when chants mingled with live music, including a rendition of Beethoven’s Ode to Joy , lent the downtown area an upbeat feel. In Rome, the protests were as much about the dissatisfaction with the government of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who survived a vote of confidence on Friday, as they were about global financial inequities. Tens of thousands of people turned out for what started as peaceful protests, and then devolved into ugly violence. The windows of shops and banks were smashed, a police van was destroyed, and some Defence Ministry offices were set alight. “We don’t feel represented by the government,” Alessia Tridici, 18, said. “We don’t have future prospects. We’ll have to work until we die.” 1 of 2 17/10/2011 4:54 PM Anti-greed protests spread and fortify http://www.afr.com/p/world/anti_greed_protests_spread_and_fortify_... In London crowds assembled in front of St Paul’s Cathedral held flags and signs. “Bankers Are the Real Looters” and “We Are the 99 per cent”, read placards. One demonstrator, dressed as Jesus Christ, held a sign that said, “I Threw the Money Lenders Out for a Reason”. The New York Times, with AAP The Australian Financial Review Related News See also People Silvio Berlusconi Wall Street dismisses ‘ragtag’ protesters Topics Politics /World Politics , Financial Services Industry Create an alert Click on the links below to create an alert and receive the latest news as it happens People Silvio Berlusconi Topics Politics /World Politics , Financial Services Industry 2 of 2 17/10/2011 4:54 PM.