violent protest
Thursday 7.1.2021 Germany - Latest Developments -
Journalists continue to face attacks, death threats during protests against COVID-19 measures
On 18th November 2020, about 5,000 people gathered outside the Bundestag in Berlin to protest against stricter COVID-19 measures. The protest was broken up by the police and 31 protesters were detained. The demonstration fits within a larger wave of protests which have taken place all over the country over the past few months, which includes a protest of more than 20,000 in the eastern city of Leipzig against COVID-19 measures. Journalists continue to face physical attacks, harassment and death threats during coverage of protests against COVID-19 measures. Read more
Friday 18.12.2020 Brazil - Latest Developments -
Closing civic space in Brazil: censorship, harassment and attacks on journalists and activists
In November 2020, Brazil held countrywide local elections to elect city councillors and mayors. Politically-motivated attacks and assassinations increased by nearly 200 percent in 2020 in comparison to previous years. Read more
Thursday 17.12.2020 Guatemala - Latest Developments -
Mass protests against reduced budget for social policies in Guatemala
On 20th November 2020, civil society organisation Unidad de Protección a Defensoras y Defensores de Derechos Humanos (UDEFEGUA) published a report on the situation of human rights defenders in Guatemala between January and September 2020. Read more
Friday 4.12.2020 Guinea - Latest Developments -
Controversial presidential elections: at least 21 killed in post electoral protests and violence
Controversial and disputed presidential elections took place in Guinea on 18th October 2020, after a constitutional referendum in March 2020 and a new Constitution, allowing incumbent president Alpha Condé run for a third term Read more | Read in French
Thursday 3.12.2020 Mexico - Latest Developments -
Three reporters killed in Mexico, showing increasingly more dangerous environment for journalists
On 29th October 2020, television news anchor Arturo Alba Medina was killed by armed assailants who shot him multiple times while he was driving his car in Juarez. Read more | Read in Spanish
Tuesday 1.12.2020 Spain - Latest Developments -
Protests over COVID-19 measures amid a second wave; red flag raised over social media proposal
During the second wave of the pandemic, several protests broke out throughout Europe against COVID-19 measures introduced. Following the announcement of tougher measures, protests occurred in several big cities such as Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia. These protests have turned violent and, in some cases, have led to the arrest of protesters. In a separate development, journalists have reported that the Ministry of Interior is preventing them from taking photos of the arrival of refugees in the Canary Islands and thereby making it challenging to inform the public about current developments. In a concerning development, the Interior Committee of the Congress approved Podemos’ proposal to ban hate speech on social media. The initiative has been met with reluctance among opposition parties, jurists and freedom of expression experts. The proposal obliges digital platforms to police hate speech and invites them to censor online content.
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Monday 30.11.2020 Italy - Latest Developments -
Journalists become targets of violence & intimidation during violent anti-COVID-19 lockdown protests
With COVID-19 infections rising and new confinement measures looming, protests have flared up in cities all across Italy. People have taken to the streets to express their concerns about the economic consequences of a second lockdown, which some feel is not being adequately addressed by the government. While protests were largely peaceful, in some cities, including Florence, Rome, Naples, Turin and Bologna, protestors clashed with police as the demonstrations turned violent. Riot police deployed tear gas and several dozen protesters were arrested. There has also been several incidents of physical attacks, intimidation and death threats against journalists covering anti-lockdown protests in several cities. Read more
Wednesday 25.11.2020 Angola - Latest Developments -
Protests to demand local elections, jobs and better living conditions violently repressed
On 24th October 2020, protesters gathered in Luanda to demand the holding of local elections, which were postponed, and the rising costs of living. Police responded forcefully to the protests, which were organised by social movements, including the movement Movimento Jovens Pelas Autarquias (Youth Movement for Municipal Elections). According to news reports, police occupied the streets from the early morning, and were reinforced by military officers at the Cemitério da Santana and 1º de Maio square, where the protest was planned to end. Several activists told media they were subjected to police brutality during the protest. Read more
Thursday 19.11.2020 Czech Republic - Latest Developments -
Anti-lockdown protest turns violent amid a second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic
As of 12th October 2020, the right to peaceful assembly has been limited to a maximum of 500 people due to the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. On 18th October 2020, anti-lockdown protesters gathered at the Old Town Square in Prague to condemn the measures that banned sports competitions and the restrictions imposed on bars and restaurants. The protest, which was initially legal, grew in large numbers. However, several protesters started to throw objects including beer bottles, flares and stones at the police protecting public order. The police used tear gas and a water cannon to disperse the protest. Meanwhile, the Million Moments for Democracy-led demonstrations against the Babiš government have been staged online during the pandemic.
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Tuesday 17.11.2020 Nigeria - Latest Developments -
#EndSARS protests: several protesters killed, journalists assaulted
Since 8th October 2020, Nigerian youth have been protesting against police brutality across the country, in particular by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) unit of the Nigerian police. The protests erupted after a video of SARS officers dragging people, and apparantly shooting one, went viral, and the protests, emboldened by the use of social media, came to embrace wider grievances of bad governance and a lack of accountability in the country. Read more
