Geneva. The cobblestones are slick with rain and the acrid smell of tear gas. I've filed from war zones that felt calmer than this. The G7 summit, a gathering of the world's most powerful leaders, has turned this Swiss city into a battlefield. Sources on the ground confirm that what began as a permitted march against corporate greed and climate inaction spiralled into chaos around 3 p.m. local time.
Police in full riot gear blocked the Pont du Mont-Blanc, the main artery to the summit venue. Protesters, some in black bloc, others with children on their shoulders, pressed against the lines. Then came the water cannons. Then the flash grenades. A source inside the police command centre told me the order to 'disperse by any means' came from the highest political level. They wanted the cameras gone before the leaders' limousines arrived.
Uncovered documents, internal police memos I obtained from a contact in the Geneva cantonal administration, reveal that the use of force was pre-approved two weeks ago. The memos cite 'anticipated disruption to diplomatic proceedings' and authorise 'restrictive measures including kinetic dispersal.' What they didn't plan for was the sheer number. A leaked situational report from the Federal Office of Police puts the crowd at 15,000, not the 5,000 expected.
I talked to a woman named Clara, a teacher from Lausanne. She showed me a bruise on her ribs from a baton. 'I'm not a radical. I have a mortgage. But I refuse to let them pretend this is about trade deals when it's about survival.' A group of medics in yellow vests, independent volunteers, said they treated 23 people for injuries. Seven were hospitalised. One man had a shattered jaw.
The violence gives cover. Inside the summit, leaders will sign communiqués about 'sustainable recovery' and 'inclusive growth.' Outside, the state cracks skulls to keep the suits comfortable. I've seen this play before. It always ends the same. Money talks, blood washes away, and nothing changes. I'll be following the money, digging into the private security contracts for next week's follow-up. Stand by.
