Hamburg (July 6, 2017): Massive protests were held here against the G-20 Summit which is scheduled to begin tomorrow.
Some 100,000 protesters are expected here to hold protest to express their anger during the two-day G-20 summit starting tomorrow. An estimated 8,000 of these expected protesters are deemed by security forces to be ready to commit violence, posing a challenge for those tasked with securing the summit of leaders of the world’s 20 biggest economies.
The protesters carried placards and banners such as the ones with “Welcome to Hell” greeting to US President Donald Trump and other world leaders.
Though no major act of violence has taken place at several smaller demonstrations; including including a march yesterday by more than 7,000 beer-drinking mainly young revelers, here this week, a fire that broke out at dealership of Porsche car dealer in the north of the city during the dark of the night damaged eight vehicles. Police said they were investigating whether it was an arson attack.
The residents of the city seem unhappy with Chancellor Angela Merkel’s decision to hold the summit in the center of Germany’s second-largest city as they fear property damage by violent protesters. Their daily routines are also being disrupted by security measures.
Up to 20,000 police officers will be on duty to watch over the main demonstration, dubbed “Welcome to Hell” by the alliance of anti-capitalist groups who organized it. Protesters have said they will try to block roads in the city.
Merkel’s critics say that she has gambled big to host the summit, where leaders will hold talks on difficult issues from trade and climate change to African development, in the city of her birth.
If protests get out of control and in case there is loss of lives and/or property it would damage Merkel’s reputation less than three months before an election in which she is seeking a fourth term.
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