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‘Nobody can stop them’: Who are Europe’s Black Bloc protesters?
Europe's Black Bloc protesters, a few hundred young people dressed in black, are often involved in violence at demonstrations.
Key points
- A few hundred young people dressed in black have been involved in violence, property damage and break-ins at European protests.
- Professor Francis Dupuis-Deri says the movement started in Germany in the 1980s from the autonomia social movement.
- Some critics say Black Bloc violence distracts from the legitimate demands of student and union protesters.
Why it matters. Critics say the violent tactics distract from the legitimate demands of protesters, at a time when France has seen weeks of mass student and union demonstrations.
A few hundred young people dressed in black have clashed with police across France, Italy, Spain and Albania, smashing property and setting cars and buildings on fire. Political science professor Francis Dupuis-Deri said the movement began in Germany in the 1980s, drawing on the autonomia social movement. Italian MEP Mario Furore said Milan's looting involved very young people, many of them minors, and called it copycat behaviour.
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‘Nobody can stop them’: Who are Europe’s Black Bloc protesters?
Anarchistic activists who dress in black and clash with police are a regular feature of protests from France to Albania. From France and Italy to Spain and Albania, a regular feature of European protest movements has been the presence of a few hundred young people fully dressed in black, often engaged in physical violence with law enforcement. They have been seen smashing public and private property and setting fire to cars and buildings, and are accused of break-ins and stealing consumer goods – anything from food to jewellery. Recommended Stories list of 4 items list 1 of 4 ‘What’s wrong with citizens taking to the streets with a Palestinian flag?’ list 2 of 4 Why are Europe’s governments struggling to respond to growing protests? list 3 of 4 Danish students join European protest wave against education funding cuts list 4 of 4 Hundreds of thousands protest across France over high cost of living end of list Known as the “Black Bloc”, they have aggressive energy that can upend otherwise peaceful demonstrations by student groups and professional unions. While some say they bring attention to social, political, and economic inequalities, others condemn their violent methods, saying they distract from protesters’ legitimate demands. “The movement started in the 1980s in Germany and came from a social movement called autonomia, or autonomy,” political science professor Francis Dupu.