In the early morning of 25 June 2020 a group of climate activists from Extinction Rebellion removed the word ‘Finance’ from the Finance Tower in Brussels. The tower was to be re-baptized ‘Resilience Tower’ during a demonstration on June 27.
The re-naming of the building was to be a symbolic gesture. According to the movement the building “houses key government competencies, such as immigration and health under the umbrella of 'Finance', which is symbolic of the priorities that clearly guide our politics. We want our governments to focus on building a more resilient society that will be better able to cope with future crises.”
Although protestors were allowed to demonstrate, they were prevented by police from actually attaching the letters to the tower. Subsequently, protesters were immediately stopped by police in riot gear when they tried to march to the office of the Prime Minister. Protestors were, after being hemmed in by police for more than an hour, presented with a choice to either leave and have their identity checked or be arrested. Seventy-five people were eventually arrested.
Image 3: Protestors hold up the ‘R’ of resilience during a demonstration in Brussels. Plain-clothes police officers are looking on in the background.
Image 4: Protestors were prevented by police officers from attaching the letters to the tower. Note on the depiction of a police officer: I doubted to post this photo, but as the police officer is on duty during an event of public interest, I think it is warranted that he is as such depicted (this in combination with the journalistic context of the depiction as described above).
Image 5: Members of the Extinction Rebellion movement are having a yoga session while police officers look on.
Image 6: protestors are subjected to an identity check before being able to leave.
Protestors were prevented by police officers from attaching the letters to the tower.