Genoa G8, Friday July 20, 2001
Piazza Manin / Police Charge against Demonstrators
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At around 2:00 p.m., reports began to circulate about clashes in the districts closer to the waterfront, and some groups moved from the main demonstration toward Piazza Marsala, where attempts to cross the protective barriers were pushed back with water cannons and tear gas. Demonstrators then moved back toward Via Assarotti. Shortly before 3:00 p.m., the main march returned toward Piazza Manin, where news spread of the possible arrival of Black Bloc groups from the Marassi district.
A group dressed in black reached Piazza Manin soon afterward. Some of them, partially or fully masked and followed at a distance by law enforcement, attempted to merge with the peaceful demonstrators, but were blocked by the demonstrators themselves, who formed a cordon to keep the groups separate. Law enforcement units, redirected to Piazza Manin after failing to intercept the Black Bloc elsewhere, fired tear gas and then carried out a charge. The Black Bloc groups fled the area, while the police action struck the peaceful demonstrators, causing numerous injuries. The Black Bloc continued along Corso Armellini and dispersed along the ring road, damaging and setting fire to several vehicles before leaving the area without being stopped. Two young Spanish men were arrested in connection with the events, but were later fully cleared. Court proceedings subsequently established irregularities in the circumstances of their arrest. |
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Tear Gas in Front of the Red Zone, Piazza Manin, Arrival of Black Bloc
File: ADG82001/0720-0002
Description of footage
From: 01.00.08.00
Police advance. Young people sit down in front of the police. The police move away. Another group of police lined up, row of shields.
From: 01.02.02.00
Police officers begin covering their mouths with handkerchiefs. Tear gas launched in Piazza Marsala, smoke. Demonstrators also cover their faces. Fire brigade vehicle. People move away from the fence area. Mobile phone sirens sound.
From: 01.06.42.00
High-angle view, people running. Police charge and disappear down a street. Demonstrators’ barricades made of barriers and metal sheets.
From: 01.11.10.00
High-angle wide shot of the barrier, seen from a distance. A group of demonstrators is trapped between the barrier and a line of police officers.
From: 01.11.26.00
Young people enter a grocery shop with the shutter half open. Elderly women look around.
From: 01.12.15.00
Arrival of a group of Black Bloc in Piazza Manin. They carry chains and iron bars.
From: 01.13.10.00
Lilliput Network activists try to stop them, white hands raised, shouting “Non-violence.” They block the street and tell them to leave. Applause. Announcements over a megaphone in English, Spanish, and Italian about what is happening in the square. Close-ups of demonstrators listening.
File: ADG82001/0720-0002
Description of footage
From: 01.00.08.00
Police advance. Young people sit down in front of the police. The police move away. Another group of police lined up, row of shields.
From: 01.02.02.00
Police officers begin covering their mouths with handkerchiefs. Tear gas launched in Piazza Marsala, smoke. Demonstrators also cover their faces. Fire brigade vehicle. People move away from the fence area. Mobile phone sirens sound.
From: 01.06.42.00
High-angle view, people running. Police charge and disappear down a street. Demonstrators’ barricades made of barriers and metal sheets.
From: 01.11.10.00
High-angle wide shot of the barrier, seen from a distance. A group of demonstrators is trapped between the barrier and a line of police officers.
From: 01.11.26.00
Young people enter a grocery shop with the shutter half open. Elderly women look around.
From: 01.12.15.00
Arrival of a group of Black Bloc in Piazza Manin. They carry chains and iron bars.
From: 01.13.10.00
Lilliput Network activists try to stop them, white hands raised, shouting “Non-violence.” They block the street and tell them to leave. Applause. Announcements over a megaphone in English, Spanish, and Italian about what is happening in the square. Close-ups of demonstrators listening.
Piazza Manin, Police Charge against the Pacifist Groups
File: ADG82001/0720-0003
Description of footage
From: 01.16.57.00
Helicopter flying over the square. Police charge in Piazza Manin. Tear gas launched. People running.
From: 01.19.00.00
Young man with helmet and camera falls to the ground. He is attacked and beaten by police officers.
From: 01.20.14.00
Interviews and testimonies about the arrival of the Black Bloc in the square, attempts to stop them, and the subsequent police charge, which struck the pacifist groups after the Black Bloc had moved away.
From: 01.23.20.00
A young woman is taken away by ambulance.
File: ADG82001/0720-0003
Description of footage
From: 01.16.57.00
Helicopter flying over the square. Police charge in Piazza Manin. Tear gas launched. People running.
From: 01.19.00.00
Young man with helmet and camera falls to the ground. He is attacked and beaten by police officers.
From: 01.20.14.00
Interviews and testimonies about the arrival of the Black Bloc in the square, attempts to stop them, and the subsequent police charge, which struck the pacifist groups after the Black Bloc had moved away.
From: 01.23.20.00
A young woman is taken away by ambulance.
Speeches in Piazza Manin after the police charge against demonstrators
File: ADG82001/0720-0004
Description of footage
From: 01.28.40.00
Piazza Manin after the police charges. A young man tries to lighten the mood and encourages people to sing and play football. Discussions in the square.
From: 01.30.00.00
A participant gives an impromptu speech in the square, calling for reflection and discussion on what has just happened.
From: 01.33.25.00
Some people organize singing and dancing.
From: 01.34.56.00
Street. Overturned garbage bins. Fire brigade vehicles. Young people dancing in the square.
From: 01.37.43.00
A demonstrator gives updates by megaphone on the situation in other squares and demonstrations. Clashes taking place and already occurred in other parts of the city are mentioned.
From: 01.43.16.00
High-angle wide shots of the square. People in the square. Fire brigade vehicles.
From: 01.45.00.00
Discussion among demonstrators about the police charges.
From: 01.45.40.00
Demonstrators whistle at approaching Black Bloc. They shout, “Go away.”
From: 01.46.30.00
Young woman recounts the events during the clashes. Young people wash the white paint from their hands at a fountain. A small march leaves the square.
File: ADG82001/0720-0004
Description of footage
From: 01.28.40.00
Piazza Manin after the police charges. A young man tries to lighten the mood and encourages people to sing and play football. Discussions in the square.
From: 01.30.00.00
A participant gives an impromptu speech in the square, calling for reflection and discussion on what has just happened.
From: 01.33.25.00
Some people organize singing and dancing.
From: 01.34.56.00
Street. Overturned garbage bins. Fire brigade vehicles. Young people dancing in the square.
From: 01.37.43.00
A demonstrator gives updates by megaphone on the situation in other squares and demonstrations. Clashes taking place and already occurred in other parts of the city are mentioned.
From: 01.43.16.00
High-angle wide shots of the square. People in the square. Fire brigade vehicles.
From: 01.45.00.00
Discussion among demonstrators about the police charges.
From: 01.45.40.00
Demonstrators whistle at approaching Black Bloc. They shout, “Go away.”
From: 01.46.30.00
Young woman recounts the events during the clashes. Young people wash the white paint from their hands at a fountain. A small march leaves the square.