1,100 skeptics of the crown protest in Hannover | NDR.de – Nachrichten – Lower Saxony

Status: 12.09.2020 5:00 pm – NDR 1 Lower Saxony

According to the police, around 1,100 people protested against the state corona measures in Hannover on Saturday. They regretted what they saw as inappropriate interference with fundamental rights and the arbitrariness of the state. So far there have been no special incidents, only minor incidents, a police spokesman for NDR.de said in the afternoon. However, the train in the city center had to stop in the middle: the organizer asked the participants to keep the minimum distance and to cover their mouth and nose.

Administrative court: receipts provided

The Hannover Administrative Court had previously rejected an urgent request from Corona opponents against the police requirements. There is an epidemic situation of national scope, therefore the conditions are proportionate, so the court. All participants would have to wear mouth and nose protection; they also had to maintain a minimum distance of one and a half meters, and even five meters from the speakers.

Several hundred counter-protesters

One speaker spoke of a “fake pandemic” at a rally at the start of the protests. “They take away our human rights,” he said, referring to the federal government. A private initiative had registered the protest. A significantly higher number of participants was expected. There were also protests in the city against criticism of Corona’s measures, for example by left-wing youth with 200 participants. According to the police, around 450 people were counted at the “Stand Up Against Racism” rally.

“Don’t let the extremists turn you into tools”

Lower Saxony constitution protection chairman Bernhard Witthaut called on the people in advance to be careful who joins the anti-crown rally. “Do not allow yourself to be turned into tools by extremists who have completely different things in mind to protest against the measures of the crown,” Witthaut told NDR Lower Saxony. It cannot be ruled out that right-wing extremists and citizens of the Reich occasionally mingle with the demonstration.

After the incidents in Berlin, the police protected the state parliament in Hannover on Saturday.

Police on the spot with large number

At a similar demonstration in Berlin two weeks ago, right-wing extremists and citizens of the Reich tried storm the Reichstag building. By Saturday lunchtime there were already a large number of policemen on the scene in Hannover: about a dozen police cars were parked in front of the state parliament, 15 officers were standing right in front of the door of the parliament building. In other places in the state capital, too, the police were present with great force, among other things with an equestrian squad.