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Thousands of people gathered at Munich’s Theresienwiese on Saturday afternoon to demonstrate against Corona’s measures. Police estimate there are up to 10,000 participants at the scene. However, many apparently do not adhere to the rules: they wear a mask and keep their distance. Shortly after the demonstration started, the police asked people to wear mouth and nose protection because otherwise the demonstration would have to be stopped. Speeches on stage had to stop until the crowd was better distributed on the Theresienwiese.
There is no limit to the number of participants in Theresienwiese, this was previously lifted by a court. However, protesters have yet to adhere to infection control measures.
The protest march from Odeonstplatz through Munich city center broke up in the early afternoon. Significantly more people participated than allowed. “At the peak there were 3,000 participants,” said a police spokesman: 500 had been approved. Because the number had been so significantly exceeded and many participants had not worn a mask, the police had stopped the train. Soon after, the organizers of the “lateral thinking 089” initiative interrupted the train and asked the participants to gather for the main demonstration on Theresienwiese. All available police forces have also moved there, a spokesman said. Initially there were no incidents or arrests.
Hundreds of opponents peacefully demonstrate
The protests were registered by the “lateral thinking 089” initiative, which rejects measures to combat the coronavirus. An alliance against this position was organized in Munich, which also took to the streets on Saturday afternoon; the time trial at Goetheplatz could not be more contrary. “Solidarity instead of right-wing conspiracy insanity” is the title. It has the support of 48 organizations and parties, mainly from the left.
1,000 people were registered, says a spokeswoman. And it’s hard to say if there really are that many this afternoon. But several hundred are safe. And everyone wears a mask without complaining, the organizers have drawn chalk lines on the ground to help guide the distance of one and a half meters. And although the small square at the entrance of the subway is full, people stick to it. You stand out, which is also clear in the speeches. These are directed against right-wing ideology, anti-Semitism and racism and remember the fate of the refugees, including a minute of silence for the deceased.
Max Brym, coach of the Jewish sports club TSV Maccabi, finds very clear words. He describes the “side thinkers” protesters as “stupid and ruthless petty bourgeoisie.” He then recounts the story of how in late May he was insulted in an anti-Semitic manner by a cyclist wearing a “Denial of Corona” T-shirt in the English Garden, saying that the Jews “did that to Corona.” Brym is infuriating himself and demands that “these guys have to be put on the run.”
In general, the counter-demonstration is relaxed, with loud applause the crowd reacts to the news that the procession of the others has disbanded. Here, too, it is not entirely without humor: a protester and a protester hold signs with “We congratulate the graduates of Youtube University” and “So much imagination, so little understanding.”
1400 police officers on duty
The police are meeting about 1,400 officers in the city center of Munich this Saturday to ensure that all requirements are met. This includes wearing a mask, which Corona’s critics reject. A police spokesman said they would “react accordingly.” But he left open the record with which the police want to punish rapes.
After the experiences in Berlin, where hundreds of right-wing protesters broke through the Reichstag barriers and then waved Reich flags on the stairs in front of the parliament, the Munich police will pay particular attention to historically relevant and symbolic places and buildings. “Property protection plays an important role,” the spokesman announced, citing the state parliament as an example. This also applies if the rally, as specified by the city, takes place far away on Theresienwiese.
There is no fixed maximum number of participants on Theresienwiese
How and where “lateral thinkers” are allowed to manifest in Munich, the Bavarian Administrative Court (VGH) only determined in a resolution on Saturday night. A demonstration march with up to 500 participants was allowed from Odeonsplatz to Theresienwiese. The judges also determined that the subsequent meeting must take place there. The 1000 visitor limit imposed by the city has been lifted. According to a VGH spokeswoman, there is no fixed upper limit for the number of participants, not even the 5,000 originally enrolled. From the court’s point of view, the decisive factor is “that hygiene standards (can) be observed”.
The start of the demonstration at 1:00 pm was preceded by a legal fight over the two recorded demonstrations of “lateral thinking”. The district administration department (KVR) had banned the protest march through the city center and relocated the subsequent demonstration from Odeonsplatz to Theresienwiese. The number of participants was restricted. The organizers went to the administrative court to revoke these conditions. However, this declared the city’s action legal. In second instance, in response to a new complaint from the organizers, the Bavarian Administrative Court partially repealed and significantly relaxed these requirements.
