Brussels riot police break up anti-Semitic rally

Brussels Police resorted to the use of water cannon on Sunday in order to disperse a crowd of about 400 people who had gathered to attend an anti-Semitic rally that had been banned by Anderlecht mayor Eric Thomas.

The independent MP Laurent Louis organised the extreme-right rally called Debout les Belges! (Stand Up Belgians!), despite Thomas's ban on it for safety reasons. About 400 people showed up in Anderlecht, and unrest indeed broke out, including bottles and chairs being thrown. Louis himself was hit by water from a cannon.

"This is a disgrace. Belgium is a dictatorship,” said Louis. Attendees called Thomas’s ban of the event “a violation of their freedom of speech”. Federal minister of equal opportunities Joëlle Milquet expressed her full support of the mayor’s decision.

One of the guests invited to speak at the rally was the controversial French comedian Dieudonné, who is known for his anti-Semitic act. In addition to Dieudonné, there were also other speakers invited who have previously been convicted of anti-Semitism and racism.