text: Violence trumped protesters important messages in Italy | Online Athens
  Violence trumped protesters important messages in Italy
  Activists all over the world are appalled by the bloody outcome of the mass protests against corporate globalization in Genoa, Italy. The violence in Genoa was sparked by a tiny minority of anarchists -- the ''Black Bloc'' -- and by the Italian carabinieri or police. Black Bloc members infiltrated peaceful marches and provoked the carabinieri, who responded by gassing and clubbing the peaceful demonstrators.
  On July 21, the carabinieri carried out a violent invasion of the Social Forum, the headquarters of the peaceful protesters, leaving pools of blood and piles of smashed computers in their wake. This attack was documented in the Wall Street Journal on July 23. Is fascism making a comeback?
  In defense of the Black Bloc, they do engage in vandalism against property but not violence against people -- and they get news coverage for the protests. It is unfortunate that ideas, or even massive nonviolent protests, don't make much news. To get attention, you need to start a riot. But news footage of burning cars and riot police does not help people understand why we oppose corporate globalization.
  Corporate globalization devastates the environment, holds down wages everywhere and does nothing to help the world's poor. You won't hear about this on the TV news. As concerned citizens, it's our responsibility to find other channels for this message.
  DAN EVERETT WALL STREET JOURNAL GENOA ITALY SOCIAL ISSUES THE WALL STREET JOURNAL WAR_CONFLICT THE ATHENS BANNER-HERALD BLACK BLOC ITALIAN CARABINIERI THE TV NEWS