Extreme leftists in major riot in Frankfurt to protest against the ECB and support Greece

[Adar]

Source
There were riots in the German city of Frankfurt on Wednesday as protests against the official opening ceremony of the new European Central Bank (ECB) headquarters turned violent.

Police used water cannon and tear gas against protesters who threw stones and fireworks, broke windows and set cars on fire.

More than 100 people were reported injured, including 88 police officers and two firefighters. The Frankfurt fire department said its crews had come under attack.

“Our firefighters are being attacked. Please stop doing that!” it said in a tweet.


The Blockupy movement includes Greece’s governing Syriza party, as well as the German opposition Left Party and one of Germany’s biggest trade unions.
Much of the protesters’ anger appeared to focus on the ECB’s role as a member of the troika overseeing debt relief for Greece.
“Our protest is against the ECB, as a member of the troika, that, despite the fact that it is not democratically elected, hinders the work of the Greek government. We want the austerity politics to end,” said Ulrich Wilken, one of the organisers of the protest.

Masochism really seem to have gotten far among the German leftwing with Die Linke siding both with the Syriza-Independent Greeks coalition and being the only non-rightwing extremist party sending observers to the Russian sponsored elections in Ukraine.

What exactly is the agenda of Die Linke and how does other Germans feel about them? According to their description they are democratic reformists but they also got official internal factions with wonderful names such as Kommunistische Plattform and Antikapitalistische Linke
which are under surveillance by the Bundesamt für Verfassungsschutz (essentially the constitution protection agency) due to their radicalism.

If we look at their distribution across Germany it also look like they are the party for people nostalgic about the good old days in the DDR.


I am also interested to hear about how this is reported in Germany because my usual source Spiegel Online doesn't even mention them.

[Kraut]

If we look at their distribution across Germany it also look like they are the party for people nostalgic about the good old days in the DDR.

Which is explained quite easily: "Die Linke" is the former SED, the single ruling party of the former GDR
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sociali...rty_of_Germany

[Roma_Victrix]

If this was Ferguson, Missouri and not Frankfurt, Germany I think we all know what would happen to the protesters once a single cop car got ignited.



I kid, I kid, the good men and women of law enforcement in Ferguson are showing wonderful restraint in not mowing everyone down on live TV.

I find it bizarre that the protesters would attack the firefighters for putting out fires, because, you know, fires aren't dangerous to everything around them (including the protesters starting them).

[caratacus]

I find it bizarre that the protesters would attack the firefighters for putting out fires, because, you know, fires aren't dangerous to everything around them (including the protesters starting them).

Most likely this is probably the work of anarchists, as such meetings usually attract such nut jobs. They have little respect for private property and the law, believing violent behaviour is justified to open debate about issues. Anyone in a uniform is seen as a tool of the state, even a fireman!!

[Knight of Heaven]

What I claim is that Die Linke is repeatedly showing up in situations where it is hard to understand their position from a German or socialist perspectiv

Do you realy do not understand what is going in europe right now? socialy speaking, it is happening what it happens in social-economic crisis. Discontent, social strife, and change on top of that, has this effects. Or have you been oblivious to the the rise of far right, and far left all over europe.
The current paradigm, has failed us in a lot of ways, this is a natural result, of its instability. The attitude of denial, and alienation of the case has not helped the issue specialy by the political elites, that have failed to concieve a certain social price for actions taken. It Ultimatly has its concequences, and Europe is rich in that kind of history.

My point is this is not surpising at all. I cant condone it, but i do understand the sentiment. Not to mention socialy speaking allthough the economic crisis is felt much hardly in the south of Europe, or in other places then Germany... the truth however is central europe, it isnt imune to it, nor to its varied contagious. Just look at France. Are realy people that suprised, considering what has been going on in europe for the past recent years?! i think not.

[Gäiten]

In German media there is a great tolerance and love for leftist violence.

They fight for Social justice and therefore their cause is just, they fight for the Poor, therefore their fight is just, they fight the Nazis (here in Germany all people (who are not leftists) are Nazis) therefore their fight is just.
They fight the police and firefighters because they represent the state, which they do not see as being just, so doing this is just.

As you see it is simple.

[Aikanár]

In German media there is a great tolerance and love for leftist violence.

They fight for Social justice and therefore their cause is just, they fight for the Poor, therefore their fight is just, they fight the Nazis (here in Germany all people (who are not leftists) are Nazis) therefore their fight is just.
They fight the police and firefighters because they represent the state, which they do not see as being just, so doing this is just.

As you see it is simple.

Indeed, that's simple. It's either hyperbole at or extremist right wing propaganda or, if you know it better, a lie.

Spoiler for the concept of what a lie is: 

The Blockupy movement is supported by both Die Linke and Syriza. The Blockupy demonstration in Frankfurt sparked severe riots, hundreds injured and several police cars burnt which is why I made this thread.

Given that Die Linke got connections to both leftist violence and Syriza it is natural that these connections come up. Furthermore Die Linke and Syriza got the distinction of being the only two significant leftist parties that I know with connections to Vladimir Putin which I didn't think of until my second post when I commented on your initial hyperbole.

Die Linke -or to be precise Ulrich Wilken (Die Linke) deputy President of the Hessian Landtag- actually organized and officially registered the legal part of the demonstrations yesterday. Die Linke is closely knit with blockupy. However, as has been said by caratacus, such demonstrations always attract loonies who are ready to resort to violence from all kinds of backgrounds, especially from anarchist and extremist leftist groups not necessarily directly linked to Die Linke.

However, it was short sighted and naive not to expect such groups to be attracted by this demonstration. We've seen such things happen on multiple occasions across Europe since Genua '01. Hence why there was such a huge police presence in Frankfurt to begin with - it was to be expected to happen.

As for your question with regards to the reception in German media, here are some articles:
http://www.zeit.de/politik/deutschla...destag-debatte
http://www.zeit.de/politik/deutschla...test-kommentar
http://www.faz.net/aktuell/rhein-mai...-13492647.html
http://www.faz.net/aktuell/rhein-mai...-13490592.html
http://www.fr-online.de/blockupy-fra...,15402798.html

With regards to Die Linke and Russia, that's a very special relation rooted in the history of several predecessors of the conglomerate that made up the foundation of the party Die Linke (including the PDS/SED). Die Linke is usually very Russia-friendly, while not necessarily Putin-friendly.

That all being said, as a personal comment to what happened yesterday and the night before, I live in the greater Frankfurt area, reasonably far away from it so that I didn't see or hear anything personally, but three of my workers who partook in a professional development course in the city witnessed parts of what happened first hand and when I talked to them today they were disgusted and frightened by what they've seen yesterday. Of course, that's just anecdotal hear-say, but nevertheless.

All in all I think it was a despicable show of how people can exploit freedom of speech and freedom of demonstration. Resorting to violence makes them nothing but criminals and in the end, the average Joe has to pay for all that with his tax money.

[Adar]

Indeed, that's simple. It's either hyperbole at or extremist right wing propaganda or, if you know it better, a lie.

Spoiler for the concept of what a lie is: 

Die Linke -or to be precise Ulrich Wilken (Die Linke) deputy President of the Hessian Landtag- actually organized and officially registered the legal part of the demonstrations yesterday. Die Linke is closely knit with blockupy. However, as has been said by caratacus, such demonstrations always attract loonies who are ready to resort to violence from all kinds of backgrounds, especially from anarchist and extremist leftist groups not necessarily directly linked to Die Linke.

However, it was short sighted and naive not to expect such groups to be attracted by this demonstration. We've seen such things happen on multiple occasions across Europe since Genua '01. Hence why there was such a huge police presence in Frankfurt to begin with - it was to be expected to happen.

As for your question with regards to the reception in German media, here are some articles:
http://www.zeit.de/politik/deutschla...destag-debatte
http://www.zeit.de/politik/deutschla...test-kommentar
http://www.faz.net/aktuell/rhein-mai...-13492647.html
http://www.faz.net/aktuell/rhein-mai...-13490592.html
http://www.fr-online.de/blockupy-fra...,15402798.html

With regards to Die Linke and Russia, that's a very special relation rooted in the history of several predecessors of the conglomerate that made up the foundation of the party Die Linke (including the PDS/SED). Die Linke is usually very Russia-friendly, while not necessarily Putin-friendly.

That all being said, as a personal comment to what happened yesterday and the night before, I live in the greater Frankfurt area, reasonably far away from it so that I didn't see or hear anything personally, but three of my workers who partook in a professional development course in the city witnessed parts of what happened first hand and when I talked to them today they were disgusted and frightened by what they've seen yesterday. Of course, that's just anecdotal hear-say, but nevertheless.

All in all I think it was a despicable show of how people can exploit freedom of speech and freedom of demonstration. Resorting to violence makes them nothing but criminals and in the end, the average Joe has to pay for all that with his tax money.

Thank you and I am a bit surprised that Die Linke maintain the Russian-friendly approach. In Sweden the former pro-Soviet party have even open declared Putin to be "right wing authoritan" to make it clear that they do not wish to be associated with Putin. I suspect that there is a huge rift in among the left between anti globalists who view America as a big threat and the new left more concerned with multiculturalism and feminism but I am not sure enough to make a verdict.

[athanaric]

Indeed, that's simple. It's either hyperbole at or extremist right wing propaganda or, if you know it better, a lie.

Or maybe it's a pretty precise description of how the SED and aligned organizations see the world. No need to accuse other people of lying...

[Adar]

Or maybe it's a pretty precise description of how the SED and aligned organizations see the world. No need to accuse other people of lying...

Aikanars first linked article even gives a pretty good example of the issue as parliament member Heike Hänsel try to justify the riots and liken them to the Maidan events in Ukraine while Green party spokesperson Irene Mihalic seem to consider it a good purpose using the wrong methods.

[Aikanár]

Or maybe it's a pretty precise description of how the SED and aligned organizations see the world. No need to accuse other people of lying...

I suggest to re-read the post I addressed again, especially with regards to sweaping rant-like generalizations without backup. I leave the choice of hyperbole, extremist right-wing propaganda or a lie to the kind reader - no need for selective reading.

[Garbarsardar]

A whole off topic tangent, deleted.
Thank you,
Garb.

[fkizz]

[Caelifer_1991]

I too find it quite surprising that any left wing association would consider Russia an ally, when Russia is basically Corporatist, and thus further right than essentially every Western country besides perhaps the U.S., and possibly them as well.

[Adar]

I too find it quite surprising that any left wing association would consider Russia an ally, when Russia is basically Corporatist, and thus further right than essentially every Western country besides perhaps the U.S., and possibly them as well.

Russia is rightwing totalitarian while the US is rightwing liberal.

What makes USA unique is that the ideals of the politically active lower classes are fundamentally liberal (traditional liberal, not US liberal). Rationally there are only really two reasons to support Russia:
1) You really hate the US and don't care about the consequences.
2) You got totalitarian beliefs yourself.

[ShockBlast]

I too find it quite surprising that any left wing association would consider Russia an ally, when Russia is basically Corporatist, and thus further right than essentially every Western country besides perhaps the U.S., and possibly them as well.

Neo-cons should be having orgasms over how the Russian Federation is run, not the left.

I guess it`s because of all the Marxist stuff, people who don`t like unregulated economics tend to be sympathetic to Marxism and RF by extension.

As for the riots themselves, it`s a vaste of energy, ECB was in need of an HQ for a long time.Just because it was finished now it doesn`t mean they have to burn half of the city down.It`s childish.

[Caelifer_1991]

Neo-cons should be having orgasms over how thr Russian Federation is run, not the left.

I guess it`s because of all the Marxist stuff, people who don`t like unregulated economics tend to be sympathetic to Marxism and RF by extension.

As for the riots themselves, it`s a vaste of energy, ECB was in need of an HQ for a lond time.Just because it was finished now it doesn`t mean they have to burn half of the city down.It`s childish.

I think it might just be down to general ignorance, you'd be surprised at the number of people that still think of Germany as being far-right, even though 70 years have passed since World War 2; I imagine the same applies to Russia in that some people just never quite realised apparently that the USSR did indeed fall and that Russia =/= USSR anyway. Most people just don't seem to bother to read into anything - its quite depressing, really.

[Napoleonic Bonapartism]

I think it might just be down to general ignorance, you'd be surprised at the number of people that still think of Germany as being far-right, even though 70 years have passed since World War 2; I imagine the same applies to Russia in that some people just never quite realised apparently that the USSR did indeed fall and that Russia =/= USSR anyway. Most people just don't seem to bother to read into anything - its quite depressing, really.

Some Socialists I've encountered (and I consider myself a Socialist BTW) know full well the awfulness of the situation in Russia (even as they paradoxically complain of homosexual oppression in the US); yet they support Russia due to a depressingly nihilistic attitude of better anything than the USA. It's no wonder the Left is dead... They'd rather endorse an Oligarchy which blatantly rigs its own elections and systematically cracks down on political dissent then be seen to be supporting the US.

[ShockBlast]

Some Socialists I've encountered (and I consider myself a Socialist BTW) know full well the awfulness of the situation in Russia (even as they paradoxically complain of homosexual oppression in the US); yet they support Russia due to a depressingly nihilistic attitude of better anything than the USA. It's no wonder the Left is dead... They'd rather endorse an Oligarchy which blatantly rigs its own elections and systematically cracks down on political dissent then be seen to be supporting the US.

Please do not generalise about the left.Just like the right has a wide range of people, normal and loonies, so does the left.

Yes, the Marxists tend to have orgasms over the sheer Russianess of the Russian Federation but they are very few in comparison with the entire left wing spectrum.

Why the title of this thread says about major riots? What was major about them?

Given the sheer violence, burning police cars etc. , we can assume we can talk about thousands of people.

As I said earlier, ECB had planned on having a new HQ being built for it way before the cirsis.For all intents and purposes they actually needed that new building complex.

[Stavroforos]

I'm not quite sure what Russia and Putin have to do with the burning of these cars and the protests. Is someone suggesting this was somehow done by Putin, because I fail to see the connection.