Thousands demonstrate against housing shortage in Zurich
Published: Saturday, May 25th 2024, 19:20
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Several thousand people demonstrated against the housing shortage in Zurich on Saturday. Among other things, they called for a renunciation of profit on rents.
Along the route, demonstrators set off pyros and sprayed slogans on various building facades and shop windows, as a Keystone-SDA reporter observed. However, there were no major incidents.
On placards and banners, the demonstrators called for "Peace to the huts, war to the palaces", a housing policy based on solidarity and the densification of Zurich's Zürichberg residential district. Corporations, yuppies and gentrification were the enemy images. The demonstration ended at around 5.30 pm after around three hours.
Alternative route via main traffic axis
In some places, traffic was blocked for long periods due to the demonstration. This was also because an unusual route had been chosen for the demonstration due to an accident: the procession took the main traffic artery Hardbrücke. Traffic on the Hardbrücke was completely blocked for a while, and the demonstrators took advantage of the rare opportunity to walk on the main traffic artery for a longer stay.
The long diversionary route also led past sensitive areas. According to the Keystone-SDA reporter, anti-capitalist demonstrators threw paint bags at the Prime Tower, for example. Police in full riot gear stood in front of the police and justice building, which the alternative route also passed. The left-wing autonomous block repeatedly insulted them and threw plastic bottles and cups.
Various organizations from the left-wing spectrum had called for the approved demonstration. Left-wing autonomists and the squatter scene were particularly present. But there were also groups of tenants who had joined forces to fight to stay in their estates and houses. Party symbols were expressly not welcome.
©Keystone/SDA
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