WORKERS in Mexico have
erected a wooden fence
around the landmark Angel of Independence monument after feminists defaced it with graffiti during a protest over a string of alleged rapes by police.
The disorder broke out on Friday night as part of demonstrations over a perception that city officials were not adequately investigating the rape accusations. Both victims were teenagers.
The demonstrations have become known as the “glitter protests” after marchers doused the city’s police chief in pink glitter.
Hundreds of city workers spent the morning pressure-cleaning and painting over graffiti.
Protesters wrote phrases like “They don’t take care of us” and “rape state” in lime green, purple and black spray paint across the base of the monument, which commemorates Mexico’s independence from Spain and is often the site of celebrations by city residents.
Demonstrators also painted the word “rapists” on the wall
of a nearby police station
and trashed a major bus
station.
MEANWHILE in Spain, some 2000 people were evacuated on one of the Canary Islands after a wildfire ravaged more than 1235 acres in less than 24 hours.
At least 250 firefighters, nine helicopters and two planes were working to tackle the flames near the town of Valleseco on Gran Canaria, the provincial government said.
Officials said the blaze “has great potential” to spread and ordered evacuations in at least six towns.
IN central Hong Kong, heavy rain fell on tens of thousands of protesters as they marched from a packed park where mass pro-democracy demonstrations have become a regular weekend activity.
While recent rallies have been marked by violent clashes with police, organisers said they hoped the assembly would be peaceful.
“We hope that there will not be any chaotic situations today,” said organiser Bonnie Leung. “We hope we can show the world that Hong Kong people can be totally peaceful.”
The Civil Human Rights Front has organised three massive marches in Hong Kong since June.
AND in France, a waiter was killed at a pizzeria on the outskirts of Paris after a customer became enraged at having to wait for a sandwich, witnesses said.
The waiter’s colleagues called the police after he was shot in the shoulder in Noisy-le-Grand, which is located 15km east of the French capital’s city centre. The 28-year-old died at the scene.
Over the weekend residents gathered at the restaurant. “It’s a quiet restaurant, without any problems. It just opened a few months ago,” one woman said.
Police have opened a murder investigation.
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