These are pictures I’ve taken on May the 1st 2011. It started as a peaceful protest for workers rights, the demonstrators stayed peaceful.
When a bus arrived filled with demonstratots, they where not allowed to join the demonstration. Here the demonstrators go and get them from the bus.
A little later police blocked the demo with horses, the demo wasn't allowed to move because of 'face covering headgear', what kind of gear wasn't specified either. There where no baliclaves or burkas in the demo.
Behind the horses there was a row of bycicle-cops showing of their bikes (bikes are actually a very inefficient way of blocking anyone, but it might make them feel better).
In the meantime, the demonstrators decided they would not be stopped for this.
Another row of cops had formed behind the bycicle cops.
And the demonstrators clash with the horses
Followed by more sticks. Later this cops actually runs through the demonstrators on horseback.
The demonstrators do manage to get through and get one last chance to show off their banner
And then the riot-police arrives in full gear with masks.
Which then surround the demonstration.
These are some of the so called 'romeos', an arrest-unit dressed in civilian clothing. They often try to mingle with the crowd or the demonstrators, but their macho behaviour and buffed-up looks make them stand out anyway.
Closed in and nowhere to go the demonstrators get another beating. This often happened while the romeos tried to take someone out of the crowd.
More beatings with the long-stick. Keep in mind btw, the demonstrators only have shouting and walking.
This is one of the romeos who later violently jumps up on the soundwagon
One of the speakers on the soundwagon who speaks about workers-rights
More clashes
One of the by-standers was hit by riotcops and the streetmedics(first-aid), wanted to help them. Initially they where not allowed out of the demonstration. Only after a while they where allowed out accompanied by 2 cops.
Another blockade, here the romeos jumped on the sound-wagon and arrested more people. Also the police got some food but none of the demonstrators was allowed to get out to get any food.
Horses where allowed to pee, but demonstrators where not allowed out to find a toilet. With all the stops and arrests, the demonstration lasted for hours.
Lots of people where following the demonstration, but where not allowed inside the demonstration.
The demonstration from upfront.
More demonstrators get arrested on the bridge
I’ve walked back and forth the demonstration continuously, but all violence did come from the police. I have seen none of the demonstrators do more then perhaps a bit a verbal violence and shouting. The police confiscated sticks from the banners and according to them (I didn’t see it or got it confirmed from any other source) there where chains and snooker-balls. Chains could be from clothing as you often see them on punks, but those wouldn’t hurt a fly. Snooker-balls I find highly unlikely, there really did not appear to be any violent intend from the demonstrators.
The demonstrators themselves counted a bout 16 arrested, the police 11. But some of the arrested got released on-site. Out of the 11 brought into the police station 5 got released the same evening, many of them without being accused of anything.
At-least 2 demonstrators got beaten into the hospital by the police, one got hit on his eye with a long-stick the other one with a badly broken arm. I’ve seen a few people with a concussion at the first-aid post as well.
It was an amazing day, in all my life I’ve never seen such a demonstration in The Netherlands, it really looked like a walking prison, but with more police. The only reason you could tell it was a demonstration was due to the people speaking over the sound-system.
All pictures licensed under cc-by-sa-nc, for larger versions or commercial rights please contact: papparazi puscii.nl