Protests peaceful at G-20

Tens of thousands of people swarmed into the streets of Hamburg on Saturday for demonstrations against the Group of 20 summit meeting after two consecutive nights of clashes between police and protesters.

Organizers of the main march said about 76,000 people were taking part, and tens of thousands of police officers were mobilized to keep watch over the demonstrations. Holding signs that said “No G20,” the marchers hoped to show that a peaceful protest was possible after violence erupted Thursday and Friday, when some protesters burned cars and smashed shop windows.

Chancellor Angela Merkel, who faces an election in two months, had hoped the demonstrations would show leaders of other G-20 nations where protests are routinely quashed that a thriving democracy can withstand public criticism and dissent.

Instead, Merkel had to condemn the violence and explain why the streets of Hamburg, a wealthy port city, at times looked like a war zone.

“I have full understanding for peaceful protest, but violent demonstrations are a threat to human life,” she said Friday, after the first night of violence. “It is not acceptable.”

Hours later, 1,500 blackclad anarchists rampaged through the streets of the city’s Schanzen district, plundering shops and setting fire to cars and trash cans for several hours, police said. An elite unit of special forces was called in to quell the violence.