ZAGREB, Croatia (AP) — Thousands of people on Sunday joined protest marches in Croatia against a surging far right following a spate of incidents that have fueled both ethnic and political tensions in the European Union country.
Gatherings dubbed “United against fascism” were organized in four major cities, including the capital, Zagreb. The crowd chanted “we are all antifascists!” as they pledged to counter what they described as a bid by right-wing groups to spread fear and silence opponents.
There are also counter-protests:
Groups of young men wearing black clothes showed up in counter-gatherings in the northwestern port of Rijeka and the central coastal town of Zadar, according the Index news portal, which published photos. The same source said minor scuffles occurred with police and that one person was detained.
More on the counter-protests/attacks:
Masked men waited for protestors in Rijeka
[…]
The [anti-fascist] protest march was held on the route from Adriatic square, via Korzo to the Monument of Liberation on Delta, and a group of people dressed in black verbally attacked the protest participants at Adriatic square and threw firecrackers.
According to witnesses, around thirty young people, mostly masked, chanted various messages and cursed. The police kept them at a distance from the participants of the rally and pushed them towards Ciotti street.
March in Zadar met with insults and paint
[…]
On the Prince Branimir Shore in Zadar, the Dalmatian march gathered citizens of Zadar, Šibenik, Split and Korčula who, in a column, accompanied by numerous members of the riot police, set off across the bridge towards the People’s Square.
While they were crossing the bridge they were attacked by two masked men with balls filled with red paint who were waiting for the column in a speedboat under the bridge. At the entrance to the city, a larger group of members of the Tornado fan group and several members of the Association of Women of the Homeland War tried to block their passage. After a jostling, they were dispersed by the riot police.
This is very important… With declining participation in elections, these protests are a desperate sign of will for freedom and democracy.
