Activists illegally break up road with jack-hammers

A group of anti-traffic activists could face charges after illegally using jack hammers to break up a section of road in the Paquis region of Geneva.

The groups, Actif-trafiC and the Paquis Residents’ Association, say they’re tired of waiting for more green spaces in the neighbourhood which have been promised. 

At 10am yesterday, around 15 people sealed off a section of parking places and broke the asphalt. The idea was then to invite locals to plant flowers in the ground. 

But police stopped the activists and took their names only about an hour later.

The Geneva mayor, Marie Barbey-Chappuis, criticised the action – saying you can’t destroy public property – even if you have laudable intentions. 

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