Labor Day Demonstration in Groningen Disrupted
What happened at Groningen's Labor day protest?
Loud chanting, colorful signs, and enthusiastic activists. All of this was part of yesterday's Labour Day protest at the Grote Markt in Groningen.
Several left-wing political groups gathered there for a festive march through the streets in honor of International Workers Day. The attendants of the protests ranged from young students to families to elderly people.
Speakers celebrated the history of International Workers Day, established in 1889 by an international federation of socialist groups and trade unions as a day in favor of workers to remember the Haymarket Riot in Chicago.
Organizations such as International Socialists Groningen, Groningen Feminist Network, and Groningen for Palestine all delivered speeches demanding liveable wages for everyone, a ceasefire in Gaza, investment in women and LGBTQ+ workers and paid care work.
At the start of the rally, a person walking into the demonstration drew attention to themselves by verbally insulting the protesters. The organizers attempted to keep them away from the demonstration, but they kept returning.
With drums pounding in rhythm, the procession took the streets. Protesters started marching with chants like: “Toen niet, Nu niet Nooit meer facisme” (Not then, not ever, never fascism again), and “Free Palestine” filled the streets and attracted curious looks from bystanders.
As the protestors were passing the Academy Building of the University of Groningen they chanted “RUG supports Genocide”, implying the funding of Israeli organizations through the University.
When coming back to the Grote Markt speeches by Socialisten Noord and the Groninger Studentenbond followed. The speech given by Groninger Studentenbond expressed thanks to the protestors and addressed the hypocrisy of being told that students are the future while being held back when actually wanting to change the future.
As the protest came to an end, the person who had been disruptive earlier returned, now supported by several other people, and began insulting and screaming at the protesters. The protestors had to be advised to leave in groups to not put themselves in danger.
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„ The protestors had to be advised to leave in groups to not put themselves in danger. “ … scary
Interesting that the demo was tried to be stopped or insulted. What kind of real arguments were exchanged? What was the political purpose of the hacklers?