An anti-World Economic Forum (WEF) demonstration in Zurich on Monday evening escalated into violence, causing considerable property damage and confrontations with law enforcement. The protest saw several thousand participants rally under the slogan “Trump still not welcome!” as the WEF kicked off in Davos.
The event began shortly before 7 PM at the Stadthausanlage, making its way through the city to Helvetiaplatz, where many demonstrators arrived by around 8:30 PM. During the march, participants engaged in disruptive activities, including the discharge of firecrackers and fireworks, spray-painting, and vandalism targeting storefronts and public property near the bustling crossroads of Bahnhofstrasse and Uraniastrasse.
A faction of the demonstrators, affiliated with the so-called “black bloc,” diverged from the authorized path and staged an unauthorized post-demonstration near Militärstrasse and Kasernenstrasse. Initially tolerated by police, this blockade led to clashes when law enforcement officials moved in to disperse the crowd just after 9:30 PM, utilizing water cannons when demonstrators threw stones and fireworks at them.
Despite the escalating tensions, the police reported that two officers received minor injuries but did not require medical attention, and no injuries among the demonstrators were reported. Police also noted instances of property vandalism, including broken tram stop windows and the setting of barricades on fire, leading to intervention from the professional fire brigade to extinguish the flames.
The event was organized by the leftist group “Movement for Socialism,” aimed at protesting the appearance of U.S. President Donald Trump at the WEF. While the demonstration ended shortly before 11 PM, the level of damage and the incidents of unrest highlight the potential volatility surrounding major international events in Switzerland.
The display of civic engagement, even when marred by violence, reflects a robust culture of political discourse in Switzerland, where differing viewpoints come to the forefront during high-stakes international gatherings.