Police stand guard during an anti-capitalist "Blockupy" demonstration near the European Central Bank (ECB) headquarters in Frankfurt this morning (Photo: Reuters)
In a number of European countries fresh protests are planned against eurozone-imposed austerity measures. Protesters will block access to banks and stage walk-outs.
Driven by widespread unemployment, almost 3000 protestors in Frankfurt blocked the headquarters of the European Central Bank (ECB) Friday morning. The bank is part of a “troika” including the European Commission and the International Monetary Fund overseeing bailouts in the debt-struck continent.
Protesters accuse the ECB and partners of mishandling the eurozone crisis and being heavy-handed in imposing austerity measures.
The protest, called by the "Blockupy" movement, an alliance of leftist parties and the Occupy movement, blocked the entrance to the key bank for three hours before heading to Frankfurt airport to protest the country’s immigration and refugee policies, according to live Twitter updates.
European unemployment hit a new record high at 12.2 percent in April, The Guardian reported.
A second day of action is planned for Saturday with reported busloads of protestors arriving from Italy and Spain, as well as berlin, according to The Guardian.
On Thursday, labuor unions in Portugal called for a large walkout in the Metropolitano de Lisboa, the country’s metro system, in protest over harsh wage cuts.
Meanwhile, Turkey saw violence Friday during protests challenging the government’s plans to redevelop a city park in Istanbul. The Turkish police are accused excessive use of teargas against peaceful protesters. A second day of clashes is expected.
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