Austria: Demonstrations planned in Vienna June 28, 30

Event

A demonstration to protest US immigration policies is scheduled to take place in Vienna on Thursday, June 28, near the US Consulate. Participants are expected to gather at the Marriott Hotel and on Parkring near the hotel at 16:00 (local time).

On Saturday, June 30, another mass rally will take place in the city. Around 50,000 people are expected to take part in a march to protest 12-hour work days and 60-hour work weeks. The rally will start at 14:00 at Westbahnhof, with people moving down Mariahilfer Straße to Ring Road before gathering at Heldenplatz. Heightened security measures and localized traffic disruptions are anticipated around both demonstrations.

Context

Thursday’s protest concerns the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) controversial practice of separating families seeking asylum at the US-Mexico border. The Trump administration has introduced several controversial immigration policies, including the prosecution of asylum-seekers with illegal entry at the border. Families traveling with minors who are detained at the border have also been separated. Protests denouncing the practice have taken place in various countries in the weeks since the issue gained popular media coverage. Although the Trump Administration has recently backed down from some of these policies, questions remain and protests have continued.

Advice

Individuals in Vienna are advised to avoid all demonstrations as a precaution and allow additional time to travel.