From July 6th to 8th 2017, Germany hosted the meeting of the G20 in the northern German town Hamburg. Months in advance police painted horror scenarios. One of the mayor demonstration called „
#WelcomeToHell” was immediately dispersed before start. What followed was days of mass protest and clashes leaving the alternative district around Rote Flora partly trashed. Police sent special forces to clear the area, leading to more clashes. The mass of protesters was joined by people in bars firstly just watching scuffles, later hurling empty bottles towards police. An up-cry by politicians followed demanding harsh sentencing of arrested protesters. The special commission “Schwarzer Block” was formed which is still investigating. Thousands of hours of video and photo material was gathered by law enforcement and a public search of suspected rioters was performed. Even though plenty cases of police violence were documented and published no police officer was brought in front of a court, while the publicly demanded harsh sentences have been partly conducted, some under exclusion of the public. Several protesters were severely wounded, attempting to escape arrests.