May 28, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Police repression in Germany continues to escalate before G8 Summit.

Hamburg, Germany -- Days before G8 Summit, massive police presence at demonstration in Hamburg as European and Asian Finance Ministers meet at AESM Conference. Aggressive police use Pepper spray, kicks and punches.
Resistance is large and resolute.

Despite escalating police violence, 6,000 ? 8,000 people were in good spirits as they demonstrated against the ASEM conference in Hamburg. The demonstration was part of the beginning of the G8 protests.

Police repeatedly and arbitrarily used pepper spray, also attacking with kicks and punches against the then peaceful crowd. A correspondent of the free radio station ?Kombinat Hamburg? was punched in the face. One affected demonstrator was attacked and later told that it was because he
took a photo of a police officer. Later, an arrested woman was hospitalized after being hit in the stomach by a police officer.

The police were clearly nervous after delaying and surrounding the beginning of the demonstration. Aggression was provoked by individual police troops, while Snatch squads and other units tried to penetrate
the demonstration. This was prevented by many demonstrators who defensively linked arms.

Due to continuous provocation by police, and an altered route which led primarily through empty streets, the organizers decided to end the demonstration early and disperse at Roedingsmarkt, outside the city center of Hamburg.

As participants attempted to disperse, a large part of the demonstration was surrounded by riot police backed by multiple water cannons and police tanks. According to Indymedia.de, 86 people have been arrested as
of 23:08 and others are being stopped and required by police to provide identification.

Tensions are high as the German government has come under harsh criticism by citizens over the past few weeks for repressive measures like taking scent samples from activists so they can be tracked by dogs
during the G8 summit.

?The police tried to stop the protest by putting conditions on the march, changing its route and using arbitrary measures?, some
participants of the demonstration explain. ?This didn?t work, resistance against the G8 is large and resolute!?

Police aggression began last night in Hamburg during a ?Reclaim the Streets Party? when 65 people were arrested. Many were given orders to stay away from parts of the city until June 11.