The Guardian quoted Francesco Martone, a Green Party senator for Genoa, alleging that police and neo-fascists "worked together to infiltrate the genuine protesters" and discredit the left. It also quoted an Italian Communist MP, Luigi Malabarba: "I saw groups of German and French people dressed as demonstrators in black with iron bars inside the police station near the Piazza di Kennedy. Draw your own conclusions."
"Violent protests"
Despite the numerous questions about who instigated most of the violence in Genoa, "Genoa" has become a kind of shorthand for "violent protesters" in mainstream media.
For instance, it was common for mainstream news stories to link activists gathering to protest the June 2002 G8 Summit in Banff, Canada, to the supposedly dangerous demonstrators of Genoa. The New York Times (6/27/02) described Canada's extreme security measures as a response to Genoa, "where violent protesters battled the police." But what about the violent police? Many outlets simply write them out of the story.
"Violent protests"
Despite the numerous questions about who instigated most of the violence in Genoa, "Genoa" has become a kind of shorthand for "violent protesters" in mainstream media.
For instance, it was common for mainstream news stories to link activists gathering to protest the June 2002 G8 Summit in Banff, Canada, to the supposedly dangerous demonstrators of Genoa. The New York Times (6/27/02) described Canada's extreme security measures as a response to Genoa, "where violent protesters battled the police." But what about the violent police? Many outlets simply write them out of the story.