Corona delay dissolved over rapes: participants criticize police

Due to violations of Corona’s requirements, the demonstration in Berlin must be disbanded. No one adhered to the rules of distance, especially on Friedrichstrasse. But the protesters are not aware of any blame.

Berlin police broke up the large rally by opponents of the crown restrictions on Saturday, but allowed a final rally for the time being. Determining the dissolution of the protest march through the city center was “in particular the breach of the distance regulations,” tweeted the operations department. Two people were arrested after the officers were thrown rocks and bottles.

A police spokeswoman said that at the final rally with tens of thousands of participants, the distance rules would now be largely observed in order for the event to take place.

Participants in the crown rally in Berlin: After the conditions were not met, the police broke up the rally. (Source: Michael Sohn / AP / dpa)

According to police estimates, 18,000 people had previously gathered in Berlin to demonstrate against the federal government’s coronation measures. Many of them were right-wing extremists and conspiracy theorists.

Protesters complain to the police

The resignation of the federal government, as well as the end of the protection conditions and daily restrictions due to the corona pandemic, was called on banners. The posters read “Stop the Crown Madness” and “End the Crown dictatorship.” Over and over the crowd chanted “Resistance” and “We are the people.” Some protesters carried photos of Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU), Vice Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD), as well as Economy Minister Peter Altmaier (CDU) and Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU), all dressed in prison and in the words “guilty”.

In general, a very wide mix of citizens, including young and old, as well as families with children, gathered in Friedrichstrasse, where the demonstration was supposed to begin. Many sat down during the long wait. The protesters complained that they could not keep their distance because the police cordoned off everything. In fact, the police did not let anyone in to prevent it from filling up.

First demonstration on Friday

The protesters on Friedrichstrasse and Unter den Linden held flags, some from various federal states. The police blocked the entrances with bars. Among other things, large posters said: “We are the people.” Other banners called for the resignation of the federal government and the end of the protection conditions due to the corona pandemic.

On Saturday morning, the Higher Administrative Court of Berlin-Brandenburg confirmed that the Berlin police ban will not last. This decision was then final.

People stand in front of a stage at the Brandenburg Gate at a rally against the crown measures: up to 30,000 people are expected in Berlin on Saturday. (Source: Christoph Soeder / dpa)

On Friday night, 1,500 gathered in front of the Brandenburg Gate; most of them were not wearing face masks. In front of the Russian and US embassies, some demanded the signing of a “peace treaty”, a clear sign that they were supporters of the Reich Citizens Movement. Many of them believe that the Federal Republic is still an occupied country.

According to the police, the recorded demonstration was peaceful, but several calls had to be made to maintain a distance. Police had initially spoken of 120 participants in the early afternoon, but updated their estimate around 8:30 p.m.

The Berlin Administrative Court decided on Friday that the large rally against the Corona measures could take place on Saturday. He stated that there were no prerequisites for a ban. No imminent danger to public safety can be inferred from either the course of the August 1 demonstration or the critical attitude of the participants towards crown policy.

Berlin’s red-red-green Senate and the police had to receive wide criticism due to the ban order. Interior senator Andreas Geisel (SPD) also said about the ban on demonstrations that he did not want to accept that Berlin would once again become the scene of “Crown deniers, Reich citizens and right-wing extremists.”