Anti-globalization protests in Prague

Anarchist protester in Prague in 2000.

Anti-capitalist Protests in Prague took place during the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank summit in September 2000 in Prague, capital of the Czech Republic.

This protest followed similar protests in Seattle and Washington.

Various anti-capitalist protesters were seeing this institutions as one of reasons for the economic problems faced by the third world. Thousands of activists who travelled from all over the world protested and some clashed with police in the streets of Prague for several days. Police estimated more than 15,000 protesters were involved. More than 600 people were injured in the events, including a minimum of 100 from the police, but there were no fatalities.

Anger was directed against the way the IMF and World Bank pushed for a policy of directing power to the markets and multinational companies. Tear gas and water cannon were used to force back a breakaway group of activists that attempted to reach the summit venue to shut down the meetings of the global financial institutions. In spite of the large police presence, the protesters succeeded in breaking up the last day of the summit.

Additionally this action was marked by the emergence of both the "pink bloc" and the "white overall" tactics used by the Italian radical group Ya Basta!. Many video activist groups from across the EU joined up to share footage and produce a number of documentaries. UK based Undercurrents produced Revolting in Prague giving a street view of the various blockade groups.