Yellow vest activists back on Brussels' streets
The disturbance blocked off the movement of climate change protestors on Loi Street, 800 meters from EU headquarters where the yellow vest protesters mixed with the 8,000 green-vest wearing activists taking part in the environmental march.
Minor physical clashes erupted when an aggressive young man was wrestled to the ground by police while the demonstrators shouted slogans over loudspeakers and lit flares.
“We are here to track and continue the movement of the yellow vests in France and Germany. We won’t stop before the government hears our voice,” said Bart Vanzetti, a red-bearded man in a yellow vest.
The Brussels event came just one day after the 20th round of French yellow vest demonstrations. On Saturday, marchers in Paris were undeterred by protest bans put in place by the French government.
Brussels is not a new front in the yellow vest battle. The movement demonstrated there in December, when about 400 people were arrested during riots.
The protestors have used new media platforms, including Facebook and Twitter, to call on people to protest.
“Our voice can rarely be heard in traditional media,” said Bettina Putzeys, a cleaner in Brussels.
According to the homepage of “European Act Ⅱ” on Facebook, more than 1,800 people showed their willingness to join the demonstration before it was held.
The Belgian capital was on high alert, with a helicopter monitoring the parade from the sky and several patrol wagons following from the North Station to Cinquantenaire Park. Nearby subway stations were closed as a precaution.
The climate march went on as planned after being held up for 30 minutes because of the disturbances caused by the yellow vest protestors.
Environmentalists said they too would continue their protests.
“Gathering people together is only a small step,” Vanzetti said. “As long as the system of capitalism is not adjusted for the poor, as long as the ecosystem is not protected, we do not reach success.”
Ning Yuqi in Brussels contributed to this story.
