Violent protests, Belgium

This item appears on page 17 of the January 2015 issue.

At least 50 people were injured and 30 arrested on Nov. 6 after what began as a peaceful protest in Brussels turned violent, with demonstrators overturning cars and throwing stones and flares at police.

The protest, attended by more than 100,000 people, was staged against new austerity measures proposed by the Belgian government. These included cutting public services, raising the retirement age and delaying an increase in the minimum wage. 

The protest was organized by Belgian trade unions as part of a month-long campaign against the austerity measures. Another strike was planned for Dec. 8, with a national strike set for Dec. 15.