Tens of thousands of opponents of a proposed transatlantic trade deal poured onto German streets Saturday on the eve of a visit by US President Barack Obama.
A loose coalition of trade unions, environmentalists and consumer protection groups in the northern city of Hanover said they drew a crowd of 90,000 to a march and rally outside the city’s opera house.
Hannover says #NoTTIP #Germany
p/v @ZDFhannover pic.twitter.com/Ja8Smcdx93— 15MBcn_int (@15MBcn_int) April 23, 2016
Police mobilised a large force to keep the peace and put attendance at 35,000.
Banner drop by @Greenpeace on DGB Union Building at #nottip protest in #Hanover just happened pic.twitter.com/FD07gxeTSU
— Alex Poucher (@alexpoucher) April 23, 2016
Obama’s trip — to open an industrial technology fair and hold talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel and other European leaders — was intended to lend momentum to flagging efforts to see the world’s biggest trade pact finalised this year.
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