Updated August 3, 2020, 9:59 p.m.
In Berlin, thousands demonstrated against the Corona requirements at the weekend – and ignored them. Politicians are outraged, questions about the strategy of the police also arise.
Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has violated the corona requirements at rallies in Berlin criticized and appealed to the sense of community. “The irresponsibility of a few is a risk to all of us,” said Steinmeier on Monday in a video message. “If we are not particularly careful now, we are endangering the health of many. And we are also endangering the recovery of our society, our economy, our cultural life. Each of us now has a responsibility to prevent a second lockdown.
The federal government’s deputy spokeswoman, Ulrike Demmer, spoke with regard to disregarding hygiene rules such as wearing mouth-nose protection and keeping unacceptable pictures. “The behavior of many demonstrators is in no way justified and takes advantage of the high value of freedom of demonstration.” Demonstrators risked the “health and life” of others. But peaceful rallies are important. “Criticism must always be possible in democracy.”
20,000 people demonstrate without masks and distance rules
In protest against state restrictions to curb the corona pandemic, thousands of people took to the streets in Berlin on Saturday to end the pandemic containment requirements. According to police estimates, up to 17,000 people took part in a demonstration train. About 20,000 were at a rally afterwards. Because many demonstrators did not adhere to distance rules or wear masks, the police broke up the rally.
The “Thinking Outside 711” initiative called for the protests under the motto “The End of the Pandemic – Freedom Day”. The black, white and red Reich flag, often used by right-wing extremists, was also on display. In addition, Germany and peace flags waving with doves or rainbows over the heads of the participants. From their side, “We are the people”, “Line up”, “We fight for your freedom” or “Resistance” were chanted.
Security agencies and critics have long feared that right-wing extremists would take the protests. Some spokesmen propagate conspiracy theories. Again and again there were anti-Semitic incidents in similar demonstrations.
Saskia Esken: “The demonstration could have been dissolved earlier”
SPD leader Saskia Esken criticized the demonstrators, but also questioned the strategy of the Berlin police. “The demonstration could have been broken up earlier,” she told the ARD “Tagesschau”. The Berlin administration was against criticism. “The Berlin police acted professionally and appropriately at the weekend. They did not intervene too late,” spokesman Martin Pallgen told the German Press Agency. The police had pointed out the conditions to the assembly leaders from the start and ended both the elevator and the rally.
If a crowd of 20,000 people, some of whom were verbally aggressive and negative, should be dissolved without police violence, it would take a little longer, said the spokesman for Interior Senator Andreas Geisel (SPD). “Again, the police can’t be blamed.” The fundamental right to freedom of assembly is a valuable asset. “It is not possible to ban demonstrations per se in advance if there are no indications of criminal actions that could be initiated by the assembly.”
The police are also not allowed to immediately stop a meeting in the event of legal violations
Representatives of police unions also defended the procedure. “The Berlin colleagues have done a good job since they initially enforced the right to freedom of assembly, because afterwards the police will not be accused by a court of having intervened too early,” said the deputy chairman of the union Police (GdP), Jörg Radek. The federal chairman of the German Police Union (DPolG), Rainer Wendt, made a similar statement: “Even if violations of the law are found, the police must not immediately stop a meeting, but must always give the organizer sufficient opportunity to influence the participants,” he explained.
Organizers and demonstrators “danced around on the police”
The state director of the German Union of Journalists at Verdi Berlin-Brandenburg, Jörg Reichel, on the other hand, complained that the number of officials was out of proportion to the number of demonstrators. He said: “Freedom of the press was suspended across the rally.” The organizers and demonstrators “danced around on the police”. Despite several requests from the police operations management, the organizers of the press had not given free access to the press area of the rally. In addition, a press photographer was attacked and insulted by a security guard.
Verdi also said that in the back of the rally, press photographers and two television teams were “permanently offended and threatened” while demonstrators were working. (ash / dpa)
Corona opponents march through Berlin in thousands and demonstrate against the applicable rules for protection against infection with the coronavirus – of course without covering the mouth or keeping the recommended distance. The police then ended the rally.
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