Fury Erupts

Tired of talk, riotous crowds shake Europe.

Fury Erupts

Montage of photos taken at protests in London, Madrid and Manila

At the start of 2009, fury is erupting. Today, something is qualitatively different about the mood on the street. For the first time in forty years, the anger of people is palpable. The general sense of discontent that was expressed in the Greek riots is spreading. And a storm is now shaking cities across Europe as protesters galvanized by the Gaza massacre smash windows, overturn cars and confront riot police. Given the passion for resistance already displayed, it appears likely that 2009 will become a year of fury.

Global protests against the invasion of Gaza raged furiously during this, the second week, of the Israeli war. Over 100,000 people marched in France, 70,000 in Brussels, 100,000 in Madrid, 100,000 in London and protests continue to appear in cities across Europe including Athens, Berlin, Budapest, Oslo, Sarajevo and Stockholm. However, unlike the antiwar protests of the past, what is remarkable now is the widespread militancy of protesters. In each city, riot police were called in and violent clashes ensued. London protesters smashed the windows of Starbucks, in Brussels they vandalized car windows and in Yemen police opened fire on protesters, wounding five. For a complete summary of the global protests, visit The Raw Story or The Daily Mail.

Rage is one factor that marks the mood of 2009 as different. And another is the militancy of average people. Like in Greece, where the majority supported the anarchist riots, today's militant protesters are also joined, and supported by, mainstream opposition. In the UK, for example, the former mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, declared: "The British government and European Union have the economic leverage to stop this carnage. They must take decisive action to force Israel to end the slaughter." And in Spain, Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero told protesters, "It is my duty to call on Israel to implement an immediate cease-fire."

At this moment it seems clear that the mood on the street is one of riotous fury. Only time can tell whether the passion will be sustained long enough to usher in systemic change.

Do you think your friends and neighbors are furious? What do you think is behind the passion sweeping the globe?

Micah M. White is a Contributing Editor at Adbusters Magazine and an independent activist. Micah is currently writing a book of philosophical meanderings into the future of activism. He lives in Binghamton, NY with his wife and two cats. www.micahmwhite.com

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January
19, 2009
09:40 am
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Gandhi said: "A man is but the product of his thoughts. What he thinks, he becomes." "I am prepared to die, but there is no cause for which I am prepared to kill." "An eye for an eye, and soon the whole world is blind." "First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win." "There is more to life than increasing its speed." And, "You must be the change you wish to see in the world." Think on that before getting caught up in the violence and stupidity of the masses and so called leaders. When we all let go of fear and ego, and realize what we are and what life is, we will finally see how blind and stupid we are. We are all sleepwalking, messily and violently through our lives. We need to wake up. — Anonymous
January
18, 2009
11:20 pm
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What about Obama's silence? Hope ha? Change ha? — Anonymous
January
19, 2009
04:02 pm
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Obama's silence? Sorry, man, I think Obama is more or less vocal about his desire to continue military intervention in the middle east. Son of a bitch ganked me for my vote. — Anonymous
January
21, 2009
02:23 pm
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Nice one for pointing that out! People have put that mere mortal on a pedestal and he is so going to disappoint! — Anonymous
January
18, 2009
07:52 am
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The good thing about this sentiment among the general public, as opposed to merely the intellectual or wealthy elite, is that a sense of commonness is created. I often wonder what Americans think when saying 'we'... in a country with high rates of racism and lack of solidarity. What can be derived at the latest from the financial crisis but also from protesters reactions to remote events is that we are all people in one world who are connected by a wicked financial and economic system, which is abused everywhere. This abuse becomes especially visible in places of war as the weapon industry is a highly profitable market for many countries, from Europe to Asia to USA. For a long time the Israeli economy was based on weapon production. A continuous enemy and a paranoid public are handy when creating demand for production. I'm not surprised by the lack of government's response, as they are paralyzed, stuck in the predicament of preventing the injustices, of which the masses are aware of, on the one hand, and helping a tarnished economy. — Anonymous
January
17, 2009
06:11 pm
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Stop discussing this and just do it. I picked up some useful tips from the Irish. They seem to be great activists and hilarious too. When doing your shopping pick up Israeli goods and either: a. leave them in the freezer cabinet( particularly good for fruits, veg herbs , flowers) b. take food out of the freezer cabinet and let it defrost somewhere c. drop it by accident or run it over with your shopping basket. d. just change your mind about the goods you have selected and leave them somewhere randomly in the store. The store will eventually get fed up of its losses and hopefully stop stocking the goods. — Anonymous
January
16, 2009
08:32 pm
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Maybe all these excessive violent is a part of an anti-Semitic project. Jews and anti-racists have to be careful. — Ilhan
January
20, 2009
02:10 am
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Oh by the way do you mean anti-Semitic as in anti-Palestinian? Cause as it turns out more Palestinians are Semites than Jews. Don't believe me? Look it up. And recall that most of the worlds Jews are not Semites but Slavs, Turkics, Caucasians, etc. The Term "Anti-Semite" was coined by the Nazis to make Eugenics and genocide seem scientific. It's a word that is not only inappropriate but actually a misnomer. If you mean Anti-Jewish one wonders why you wont just say it. Something to hide? Like the air of illegitimacy perhaps? Israel is finished. Most preeminent scholars in the field agree there is no where for them to go but into the recycling bin like South African Apartheid and 19th century Colonialism. Even Israelis are jumping ship. It's over. Remember: if a black man can be elected president of the United States... — Anonymous
January
16, 2009
01:23 am
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Im an american and ready to take to the streets. Shit I already have and i was beat up by the police, tazed, and arrested (I protested the RNC) . The only thing was that no one helped me and the group i was with all laid down and didnt even protest to the police using violence against them. Americans arent ready to face the police because the police here have tremendous power. The have overwhelming resources and are well trained in dealing with dissent. The police in america are a very daunting force to be messed with, and the people arent ready. Americans lack solidarity and the will power to face the oppressive forces. Instead many have put a false hope into a leader that will not change anything instead of taking back power into their own hands. Americans must face the violence and must be ready to return it, non-violence protects the state and doesnt help to change anything. — Benjamin13
January
16, 2009
07:44 am
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Just because we won't be violent towards police doesn't mean we're cowardly. I'm not saying you were too aggressive, I wasn't there. But that's not how we do things in america. We have every right to expect the world powers to end injustices, to resist oppression, and to speak for those who can't speak for themselves. But the men who tazed you may not have been republicans, and they may support palestine. You don't know. We respect the police in america, we expect them not to kill innocent kids like they've done in other countries. Basically, what I'm saying is, don't be a dick. — Anonymous
January
19, 2009
09:35 pm
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How can you stand to speak for everyone like we're some colelctive hive mind. The world has gotten to this state after decades (centuries?) of bloodshed. You think it's going to just magically heal itself with a few votes, or some good will gestures? Taking it to the streets is what needs to happen. Concise, anti-establishment actions. War on the police. Now, before it's war against the military. Unfortunately we don't have the stomach to fight. We have a standard of living that makes of cowards. And that is why our children, and their grandchildren will be slaves. — Anonymous
January
22, 2009
07:45 am
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How does killing a policeman here end violence in Gaza? How does it avenge the murder of an innocent man, when you may be killing the man who saved your friend from gang violence? For every crooked or hate-filled policeman, there are ten trying to make the world safer. If the world has gotten this way through violence, continuing the cycle won't fix anything. — Anonymous
January
20, 2009
02:12 am
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Exactly. And furthermore do you read the newspape? Even the corporate, Zionist controlled one: Police points his gun into the back of restrained black man in Oakland California and pulls the trigger. Respect the police? Are you fucking crazy? — Anonymous
January
15, 2009
06:14 pm
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To be honest, if it was Cuba bombing Mexico, we would certainly be seeing a different response from the US. It is a stronger countries military bombing and attacking a weaker one. Oh sure, home made rockets versus F-16 fighters. No prizes for guessing the outcome. All it would take is a UN force to sit between the two and force them to sit down and rethink the whole thing. You have to break the cycle of violence somehow, otherwise it is going to continue forever. And it IS true that civilian (especially children's) death's will cause ever more 'retaliation' from both sides. It is no longer a case of who threw the first stone, it is time for something to be done to put a buffer between the two groups. And I am not talking about a twenty foot high concrete wall. An impartial UN force put there to protect the two groups from one another is the only tangible solution I can see. Hell, there was even talk that this current campaign by Israel was simply a last minute attack before the new peace talks scheduled to happen with Obama. Everyone needs to speak up, and in the end then there will be a roar so loud, the world's governments can't help but hear our call to deal with this. — Nick - Bittenbydesign.com
January
15, 2009
11:30 am
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Our Bionic hornets will soon buzz throughout Global Protests. Read More About OUR Zionist Support of Pre-Apocalyptic Israel. www.myspace.com/notroopwithdrawal — Think Tank Consultant
January
20, 2009
02:17 am
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Oh poor little Zionist troll. It must be a sad day for you knowing that the party is over. Knowing that the world knows exactly who you are. The face of Nazism reborn. You have become the very monster you wailed about. So tragic. So racist. So deluded. So sadly white. — Khazaria
January
18, 2009
12:52 am
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Fuckin' Freak!! — Anonymous
January
15, 2009
09:56 am
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Did you know that the British Red Cross has launched an appeal in response to the desperate humanitarian situation in Gaza and Israel. Find out more at www.redcross.org.uk/gazacrisis or http://www.redcross.org.uk/TLC.asp?id=90152 — Stela Yordanova
January
15, 2009
07:23 am
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getting tired of governmental oppression being angry is understandable protesting is a great way for people to come together to be heard. My neighbores and friends aren't interested in whats going on elsewhere. Passion is sweeping the globe because its needed. America won't join because we refuse to come together. — angelenaH
January
14, 2009
06:56 pm
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Latvians rioted earlier today. One more country to the list. When will Americans WAKE UP and start taking to the streets? — ANONONA
January
17, 2009
10:32 am
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Lithuanians went rioting on Friday. They and Latvians went to the streets, because they don't like current Governments, they don't really care about Israel and Palestine. Just imagine Americans going to the White House and getting rid of the Government. Anyways people should be furious for what's going on: wars and messed up finances, I think they should be furious much much more seriously... — Inga
January
14, 2009
01:36 pm
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Rage is good, i always find myself laughing at protesters outside all those "trade meetings" or G8 summits. Mainly because they are usually protesting "IN THEIR DESIGNATED PROTESTING AREA". Far from the individuals they are protesting. That is not protesting, that is being herded. You can even see the politicians they protest chuckling as they come and go from their motorcades. — Zechs
January
14, 2009
04:34 am
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It is hard to take you seriously when you suggest to readers to look at reports in the Daily Mail, well known for its anti-EU, anti-immigration, pro-Iraq and often racist slant. Like many of the more liberal minded residents of these islands, I could never bring myself to read the Mail. — Martino
January
14, 2009
10:01 am
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The Daily Mail article is good for the pictures they've compiled. Don't read the content but take a look at the photos. — Anonymous
January
13, 2009
05:55 pm
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In my hometown Athens in Greece there is quite a lot going on not only in the streets but what is important are the actions off the streets, like public assemblies and discussions for taking the riots one step ahead in terms of providing clear demands and actions. — Christos
January
13, 2009
05:00 pm
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With the financial collapse, more and more people are realizing that our government has been tricking us and doing what was best for a small class of people. All of this generation's good old boy presidents have been pretending to be pro middle class, making it seem cool and leading Americans to blind themselves and live beyond their means on credit; believing they are part of the American dream middle class. At the same time more and more of them joined the lower class as the income gap widened. People are facing reality now and they're pissed. At the same time, people who have been happily ignoring Israel's oppression (to put it lightly) of the Palestinians are being forced to confront the issue. But this rage is probably necessary before anything can change. I think we should be confronting what our governments do in our names. I think it's time to remind everyone who supports Israel's government exactly what kind of atrocities Israel is perpetrating in their names. This tactic creates a lot of rage, any idea how to get people to direct that rage at the Israeli government instead of the person reminding them what Israel is doing??? I like the first post, I've always felt that way about Zionism, but I've never known how to express it without sounding mean so I tend to avoid it. — Zoe
January
13, 2009
01:49 pm
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"MORE than 100 Australian Jews, including two award-winning novelists and a former federal cabinet minister, have signed a statement condemning Israel's siege of Gaza." Australian Jews protest against Israel's action "The Zionist ideology is antithetical to the Torah. Zionism was deviously designed to replace the Torah and its holy, God-given commandments with nationalistic, power-driven ideals that are devoid of holiness, godliness, or spirituality." Jews Against Zionism — Anonymous
January
20, 2009
02:29 am
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True. It's well known that the architects of Zionism; the architects of Israel were atheists. They could care less about Judaism. They cared about power and schemed to get it and hold on to it by deceiving their own people. Even Zionists today really don't care about religion. The red-neck Jewish settlers maybe an exception but most Zionists or Zionist Sympathizers in the west only really care about the privilege and immunity from criticism that being Jewish affords them. But do they go to Temple? Hell no. Do they even know anything about the religion they profess to be a member of - the one that supposedly defines them? Absolutely not. They just want to hold onto their elite membership card that gets them media (see "Propaganda") jobs and powerful positions in financial institutions. Jews aren't a minority - they're an elite. There's a difference. And once and for all: Jews are NOT a race. Not a shred of evidence. Propaganda yes. Evidence? No. Criticism of a corrupt institution is always warranted. Such is the case with the Jewish Establishment. — American

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