Thousands of protesters are expected to attempt to disrupt the G20 summit in Hamburg Germany, where President Trump is headed. The protests followed actions earlier in the week, in which German police attacked protesters with water cannons as thousands gathered to protest against the summit and Trump. The summit is viewed by demonstrators as centered around exploitation of people and global resources. We speak with Nick Dearden, director of Global Justice Now. The group released a statement titled “Campaigners tell the G20: your model is broken, only radical reform can undermine Trump.”
NERMEEN SHAIKH: We go now to Hamburg, Germany, where thousands of protesters are expected to attempt to disrupt the G20 summit, where President Trump is heading next. On Wednesday, anti-G20 protesters danced through the streets of Hamburg under the motto “Lieber tanz ich als G20,” meaning “I prefer to dance than G20.” Wednesday’s protests come after actions earlier in the week when German police attacked protesters with water cannons as thousands demonstrated against the summit and Trump. The summit is seen by the protest groups as centered around exploitation of people and global resources. This is protester Cesar Hennig.
CESAR HENNIG: [translated] I don’t like how the police treat normal people. For example, the water cannons yesterday were completely unnecessary. The atmosphere was peaceful. In general, I think it’s really bad that the G20 summit is being held in Hamburg. I’m not a radical left-winger or anything, but I think the police provoke the people and encourage violence on the streets. They almost want it to be violent.
AMY GOODMAN: Police said around 7,500 people took part in the protests. Organizers put the figure at 18,000.
For more, we go to Nick Dearden, director of the Global Justice Now. The group released a statement that said, “Campaigners tell the G20: your model is broken, only radical reform can undermine Trump.”
Nick, welcome to Democracy Now! from Hamburg, from coming…