Riots broke out in Brussels on Friday as activists clashed with police, hurled rocks and fireworks, and set fires amid left-wing unrest that has spread from France.
Masked demonstrators dressed in all-black were seen throwing rocks and firecrackers at police near a Brussels railway station. Fires were also set during the unrest, including an incident in which a man set an electric scooter on fire. Belgian police responded by deploying tear gas and water cannons in an effort to disperse crowds.
According to the Associated Press, the violence occurred amid broader anti-austerity demonstrations that drew roughly 30,000 participants. Two Belgian labor unions organized a daylong national strike, while union leaders attempted to distance themselves from the rioting. The DPA reported that over 100 people were arrested in the rioting.
The unrest comes after clashes between protesters and police in Brussels in June over tuition increases and overcrowded classrooms. Teachers also took part in the protests.
Similar unrest has recently taken place in France, where demonstrations reportedly began with students protesting education reforms before escalating into clashes with police. Some demonstrators were also seen waving Palestinian flags.
Author Michael Shellenberger pushed back against the media characterization of the French riots, saying, "Students are rioting because the French government spends too little to educate the children of migrants, say the media. But France spends between two and 200 times more per student than the nations from which its migrants come. The media refuses to report basic facts."
Thousands of people were arrested in France amid the unrest. US President Donald Trump spoke out against the rioting, attributing it to mass migration.
“What's happening in France is nothing less than out-of-control mass migration,” the president said. “This isn't about schools, this is about Islam wanting to take over a once great Country!"
Masked demonstrators dressed in all-black were seen throwing rocks and firecrackers at police near a Brussels railway station. Fires were also set during the unrest, including an incident in which a man set an electric scooter on fire. Belgian police responded by deploying tear gas and water cannons in an effort to disperse crowds.
According to the Associated Press, the violence occurred amid broader anti-austerity demonstrations that drew roughly 30,000 participants. Two Belgian labor unions organized a daylong national strike, while union leaders attempted to distance themselves from the rioting. The DPA reported that over 100 people were arrested in the rioting.
The unrest comes after clashes between protesters and police in Brussels in June over tuition increases and overcrowded classrooms. Teachers also took part in the protests.
Similar unrest has recently taken place in France, where demonstrations reportedly began with students protesting education reforms before escalating into clashes with police. Some demonstrators were also seen waving Palestinian flags.
Author Michael Shellenberger pushed back against the media characterization of the French riots, saying, "Students are rioting because the French government spends too little to educate the children of migrants, say the media. But France spends between two and 200 times more per student than the nations from which its migrants come. The media refuses to report basic facts."
Thousands of people were arrested in France amid the unrest. US President Donald Trump spoke out against the rioting, attributing it to mass migration.
“What's happening in France is nothing less than out-of-control mass migration,” the president said. “This isn't about schools, this is about Islam wanting to take over a once great Country!"
