against them. Terrified, the crowds disperse, but
are tracked by helicopters, from which further
gas canisters rain down. Many arrests are made,
seemingly indiscriminately, and force is used.
Violent confrontations break out between the
police and certain groups of protestors. Rumours
start that a protestor has been killed by the
police. That night, as the bedraggled, frightened
and angry protestors return to the stadium, the
rumour is confirmed.
One thing evident from the case above is that
a lot of organisation is necessary if protestors are
to protest effectively. Imagine you are a member
of an anarchist committee whose job it is to
contact the 250 people planning on travelling
from Britain to Genoa, placing information on
the Internet, consulting on leaflets, arranging
accommodation, etc. How does this level of
organisation compare to your initial conception
of what it is to be an anarchist?
Imagine you are one of the anarchists return-
ing to the stadium the night of the violence. Do
you think your ‘own specific demands’ have been
met by the day’s protesting? Why?
At the G8 summit, force was answered with
force. Imagine you were the Genoan police chief
responsible for ensuring public order. How
would you have tried to counter and control the
anarchists?