Protesters, police clash as the European Central Bank opens its new headquarters

https://twitter.com/EuroAsiaNews/status/578174173639475200

Nearly 90 police have been hurt by stones and unidentified liquids thrown by a small number of aggressive protestors. Police used pepper spray and water cannons to try to control the crowd and make a path through the protestors to the entrance of the new ECB building. Some 350 demonstrators have been arrested and dozens injured.

#Blockupy: Thousands rally against #ECB in #Frankfurt – LIVE UPDATES: http://t.co/2EWvIi5NXlpic.twitter.com/IvLVfOaA1p"

— Prady (@pradeepdatsit) March 18, 2015

The protest is led by a group called Blockupy and German workers’ unions. An estimated 10,000 demonstrators have taken to the streets to campaign against what they see as unfair practices by the ECB that have led to debilitating austerity measures in EU member states.

The ECB is in charge of managing the euro and outlining euro zone policy. It has also played a key role — in partnership with the International Monetary Fund and European Commission — in setting conditions for bailouts in Ireland, Greece, Portugal, and Cyprus.

We joined the EU and to trade not to be dominated and bullied #blockupy#BallyheaSaysNo@lukemingpic.twitter.com/20URsrndhd

— The Left in the European Parliament (@Left_EU) March 18, 2015

ECB President Mario Draghi addressed a crowd at the grand opening of the new headquarters, inaugurating the 600-foot-tall tinted glass building that will serve as the new home for thousands of central bankers.

Draghi also directed part of his speech toward the protestors, according to an advance text obtained by the New York Times.

European unity is being strained. People are going through very difficult times. There are some, like many of the protesters outside today, who believe the problem is that Europe is doing too little.

But the euro area is not a political union of the sort where some countries permanently pay for others. It has always been understood that countries have to be able to stand on their own two feet – that each is responsible for its own policies. The fact that some had to go through a difficult period of adjustment was therefore not a choice that was imposed on them. It was a consequence of their past decisions.

It is always a matter of balance. Stay up and smash state terrorism #Frankfurt#Blockupy#ecbpic.twitter.com/BHrybw8cd0

— Souidos (@Souidos) March 18, 2015

Activists balked at the expense of the new building, which cost an estimated 1.3 billion euro to build. They see it as a symbol of the bank’s detachment from the economic pain that has plagued many EU countries. Blockupy coordinators said on their website that “there’s nothing to celebrate in your handling of the crisis” and encouraged supporters to take to the streets during the debut of the ECB’s new building.

Here’s even more evidence that the intended peaceful protests have become less than friendly.

Frankfurt almost looks like a war scene on the day of the opening of new ECB headquarters.Massive protests. #Blockupypic.twitter.com/ruMtfI3rUe

— Laura Moore (@alauraschneider) March 18, 2015

#Lavrov offers bagels to protestors in #Frankfurt#ECB#Blockupy#Nuland
via @nourlnews@ofehr_enpic.twitter.com/Vtx3RxdwHr

— Outsa Popp (@OutiPopp) March 18, 2015

"Capitalism Kills" banner drop at Frankfurt #Blockupy action | via @khusainpic.twitter.com/g0jEsPNBDS

— agitator in chief (@soit_goes) March 18, 2015

Who says black bloc NEEDS to wear black #Blockupypic.twitter.com/FFSEljUnwc

— … (@TheSilentAnon) March 18, 2015

Reuters: A German police officer who was hit by a paint bomb thrown by #Blockupy protesters looks at a burning car pic.twitter.com/uKTk1vl5Mn

— Andrew Peng (@TheAPJournalist) March 18, 2015

https://twitter.com/SloatSJ/status/578113175469445120

Anarchist BBQ in Frankfurt celebrating opening of European Central Bank HQ #Blockupypic.twitter.com/WtKX6MEEYa

— Antifa CTO (@squig_) March 18, 2015