You can always spot a potential demo day in Zurich when all the big businesses on Bahnhofstrasse and Paradeplatz have got their metal shutters down.

I've only seen one demo on Bahnhofstrasse - it wasn't full-on rioting but the police were letting off thunderflashes to move the people along...

I also saw my first riot tank (APC?) in Zurich, admittedly at a Stones concert.

looks like they had fun:
www.20min.ch/news/zuerich/story/23188863
and the destruction click "Bildstrecke"

The NZZ is calling for the entire public holiday to be scrapped.

How much did the policing cost? The damage -vs- the resistance? Perhaps abolishing the holiday would save a few thousand CHF, but how much does the taxpayer pay for all those coppers and all that kit?

I'm not condoning the violence, it's abhorant. But abolishing the holiday for the sake of dissuading a few vandals hardly seems sensible. I just about missed the tear gas by not rubbernecking. Plenty of people sitting on the pavement around Helvetiaplatz who were obviously not troublemakers, eyes streaming and lungs tight thanks to the (over-?)zealous firing of gas canisters. Frankly the Police were loving every minute of playing Robocop: they were rude to simple requests, were over-conspicuous and took every opportunity to strut their stuff. I'm not anti-police, but I can understand why certain elements find it a provocation...

It's the same after football games here: the full riot-gear and high-visibility. Should the police behave that way in the Uk outside a stadium, there'd sure to be trouble. Anyway, it was the overbearing police presence which made my friends and I turn home, not the trouble makers.

But a nice atmosphere while it lasted

Just found out about this. Interesting.

I suppose it's a bit annoying for some of you guys out there that Ascension day is falling on May Day. That's two holidays for the price of one isn't it?

Nice to see one of my own threads revived once more...if only I could get round the security here at work and see once again my "Ladies. do you ever get your...." thread!!

Actually some Christians suggested that they should make a progression too, but the churches weren't too enthusiastic. So be prepared for the big Marx vs. Jesus vs. Hobbes battle tomorrow!

I can see the Jesus connection because Ascension Day is a Catholic holyday...

But why Hobbes? Is it because he's Calvinist!

Hobbes (or the Leviathan, respectively) is represented by the blue team with the white helmets

So it looks like we'll be spending May 1st in Bern (everything should be open)... unless there are any better offers

Is there a normal sort of parade/demonstration somewhere in Zurich?

Growing up in Qld, Australia, we always marched on Labour day. I don't remember riot police and teargas though, it was generally just a nice day off school.

I am awaiting to see a lot of awesome spectacular photography happening tomorrow again.

Like:
http://www.eschenring.ch/?p=5041
http://secure.flickr.com/photos/raph...er/5676251333/

and lots and lots more.

I'll be safely looking at the from the Interwebs

Note that quite a number of shops will be closed tomorrow, thus get your food today!

Oh and movies of course:

Same pathetic crap every year.
The police are almost as bad as the yobs IMHO - Red rags too bulls & all that & the yearly excuse to give their water canon a good old work out & play Robocop.
Facepalm inducing tactics.

Dunno why they dont just rent a field somewhere & go at it until both sides have all had their fun, tbh.

Sure

Obey the rioters, don't call the police.

hmmm.... this is the first I've heard of this. We were planning on taking the kids to the Zurich Zoo. Are the riots known to spread to outside the main part of the city? Maybe the zoo isn't such a great idea after all...

No holiday in Geneva, (he typed disconsolately from his desk).

Doh.... Just responded to a 5 year old post.

Can be a bit random. When I was first here some 16/17 years ago the rioters ran off into a garden party being run by the mayor of Zürich for children & handicapped.
The police in hot pursuit fired tear gas & a lot of guests had to be hospitalized.

If they were lefties they'd be getting multiple dole cheques and living on the beach in Thailand, not causing street riots in Zurich.

What was valid then is still valid now. Only a few areas may be affected, like between Langstrasse and Bahnhofplatz. But completely normal "Sunday" elsewhere. In Höngg, Zweifel has a big wine degustation and so has Welti in Küsnacht (nr Zollikon border). So that in both places, red are not the flags but the red wine

Does anybody know if all the shops in Zurich are closed? Is it just hauptbahnhof and stadelhofen open? Any info would be great