Hundreds of protesters marched in Innsbruck in solidarity with refugees in Europe and against the horrific human rights abuses of migrants by the EU, including the creation of the pan-European border agency Frontex and the Moria concentration camp on the Greek island of Lesbos. Police assaulted the demonstration, pepper-spraying participants in the face and making several arrests.
Protesters in Athens gathered in solidarity with the November 17 political prisoner Dimitris Koufontina, who entered a hunger strike on January 8th demanding his transfer to a prison with less security and a greater assurance of his human rights. Police, who stated their presence was to “stop overcrowding” backed the demonstration into a wall and crowded them on their way to the Propylaea, where the protest later dispersed.
Chilean communists took to the streets in La Florida to protest for the resignation of President Sebastian Piñera and the release of political prisoners, gathering in the dozens. The demonstration was organized by the 2nd Cell of Mayo and La Florida, a local communist organization.
Hundreds of protesters gathered in Rochester the day after a police officer pepper-sprayed a 9-year-old girl, demanding an investigation into the event and the immediate dismissal of the officer responsible. Demonstrators marched to the police station, shaking barricades, before leaving to avoid arrests and dispersing shortly after with a caravan of support on their tail.
Protesters took to the streets in Seattle for Black Lives to demonstrate against police brutality in the city that has been criticized for being unaddressed, even through the minor defunding of the police by Mayor Jenny Durkan.
