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“I had Covid-19 and I am worried about you” – Karoline Preisler took to the streets on Saturday at the Corona rally in Berlin with this message, which hung from a poster around her neck. The FDP politician from Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania wanted to set an example, to form an antipode in front of the tens of thousands of protesters who protested against the proportionality of the Crown measures.
However, that wasn’t the only reason he made the 300-kilometer trip from Schwerin to Berlin. She had medical appointments in Berlin. Preisler was infected with the corona virus in March. What followed was a bad turn, during which he even found it difficult at times to stand up.
On Sunday, the day after her visit to the Corona show, we spoke to Preisler about her experiences, the 75 masks she had with her, and why she was “extremely embarrassed.”
Ms. Preisler, what is your conclusion after all that you have experienced?
My conclusion is that this can be a new form of dialogue, that as a politically committed person, you go where your shoe tightens. Of course, this is not a new invention: the fathers and mothers of the Basic Law probably thought of freedom of assembly for precisely this purpose. It is supposed to give people who are not completely captivated by current political events the opportunity to express themselves. So it was right for me.
What was your personal incentive?
I went where people question Corona’s measures and perhaps also doubt that Corona exists; they would never have come to me and they would have spoken to me as a politician because they do not agree with current politics.
In your opinion, was it really a question of questioning the measures?
Rethinking the proportionality of measurements always means recognizing the standard on which this proportionality test is based. Yesterday I met many people who were suffering a lot and wanted to tell me something, but who did not know at all about our democratic processes. A psychologist, a doctor, many people with professional training. They wanted court martial and gallows for Merkel and Drosten and they believe in a terrible dictatorship.
Yesterday he told us in a video that he had good conversations with “lateral thinkers” but had bad experiences with a member of the “Identity Movement.” You can be more specific?
I must say that the member of the “Identity Movement” was perfectly prepared. He was always throwing things like “explain what fascism is to you.” That was a young and educated person. Passersby, including “side thinkers,” and I realized pretty quickly that he wasn’t interested in dialogue at all, he wanted to indoctrinate the people there.
And the “lateral thinkers” were more moderate?
Yes, but there were also people among the “lateral thinkers” who blame the Jews of the world or the Jewish millionaires for Corona. I broke the conversation with one of them because this “We are all infiltrated by the Jewish capital” was unbearable, I just couldn’t speak. I’ve met a lot of people who are upset. Some of the hands or faces of the interlocutors twitched with emotion. I tried to lower the tension for many hours. I met a woman who has serious heart disease; it demanded the right to be searched, otherwise we would all be locked up forever.
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Yesterday you had 75 masks that you wanted to distribute. Why and how many did you get rid of?
Some people had announced the day before that they would participate in the infected demonstration. So I thought to myself: if I can get them to put on a mask, it will be worth the effort. I ended up shedding just under ten masks. Some have worn them to show their willingness to speak, but only two have used them.
Can you tell why they wanted to wear a mask?
A man who donned the mask was also more likely to attend the demo more critically. He also came over and asked if he could have a new mask, so he already had one. The second person was a psychologist who, I think, understood that it becomes dangerous when the demonstration becomes more intense.
Besides the willingness to speak, were there also positive comments about your engagement?
Yes, many Berlin tourists came to me in front of the Brandenburg Gate. Three of them told me that they love what I do. They did not understand the world, people would die all over the world and in Germany people were demonstrating against a piece of cloth.
What do you remember negatively?
Around noon it got really overwhelming so I left shortly after. People were so excited and didn’t know what to do with them. I was afraid that someone who was waving in front of me would pick me up and shake me. For me, it was no longer a safe place.
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In hindsight, are you glad you left, knowing what happened next with the attempted assault on the Reichstag?
Absolutely, and I have to say it: anyone who says that it was not known that there would be many right-wing extremists and that it could escalate is lying. I have seen Reich citizens, identitarians and right-wing extremists since 9 am It couldn’t be overlooked either. From noon there were also many AfD flyers. I saw so many reviled Stars of David and Nazi symbols that it was clear: these people don’t want to exchange ideas about the proportionality of the Crown’s measurements.
You wrote on Twitter Sunday morning that you met a woman who had openly displayed her Jewish faith. You were afraid for her, to what extent?
I talked to you and you said: man, I think that’s very brave. Nobody looks to see if I have a cross around my neck, but the whole time I was looking at his necklace with the Star of David and of course everyone else too. Such terrible people passed by that they spoke to me about anti-Semitic theses. I was very embarrassed.
Did he tell you why he was there?
After the attack on the Halle synagogue, she decided that she had to be visible so that society would know they needed her. In fact, I felt very responsible for the woman. It was like with my Corona sign – you get exactly the people that get activated. I’ve always made sure the police are around.
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