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In the midst of the Crown crisis, the xenophobic Pegida alliance may manifest in Dresden on a very explosive date. With a Pro Chemnitz demonstration, the police also have to intervene massively.
With special permission from the authority of the Dresden assembly, the anti-Islam and xenophobic Pegida movement was able to demonstrate again in the Corona crisis for the first time on Monday, but only with 15 admitted participants. Protesters had gathered in Neumarkt in Dresden under police surveillance and behind a barrier. Outside the barriers, which delimited an area of 25 by 25 meters, it was estimated that there were several dozen Pegida trailers at a greater distance and around 30 counter-protesters.
The police were deployed with 250 officers, reports the “Sächsische Zeitung”. There were no riots. “We were on duty with 250 police officers, we allowed protesters to be counted through the barrier. After 15 people it was over. We meticulously made sure to keep our distance and wear a face mask,” said police spokesman Thomas Geithner after the “photo” show. aforementioned
Saxony, Dresden: Police officers and counter-protesters from a demonstration of the anti-Islam and xenophobic Pegida movement stand and sit with a face mask on the Neumarkt. (Source: Sebastian Kahnert / dpa)
After harsh criticism, the city of Dresden tightened conditions again on Monday. The Dresden regulatory office had shaken its head and sparked protests after special permission for a Pegida meeting with 80 approved participants. Even Mayor Dirk Hilbert (FDP) was surprised by his authority’s decision and announced a legal review regarding infection control. In the afternoon, the strictest requirements emerged. Hilbert was quoted in a tweet from the state capital saying the new regulation seemed “much more appropriate” to him.
Pegida had announced online Sunday that he had received a special permit after “constructive coordination with the authority of the assembly and the health department.” According to the Saxon Crown Protection Ordinance, collections are prohibited, but exemptions may be granted.
Police must intervene in a demonstration in Chemnitz
The right-wing extremist association Pro Chemnitz was also able to demonstrate in front of the Karl Marx Monument despite the Crown crisis. The city had originally banned this. However, as the MDR reported, the demonstration violated the Corona Protection Ordinance. The police had to intervene.
The Chemnitz administrative court granted an urgent request for the demonstration on Monday. However, here too there were strict requirements: the number of participants was also limited to 15, there was also no demo train and there had to be a minimum distance of two meters between the participants. Also, a face mask had to be worn and the event could not last more than an hour.
According to the MDR, as many as 300 other people had gathered around the meeting venue, who, according to police, apparently sympathized with the meeting participants. Therefore, the distance rules were not observed. According to the police, 40 people were denounced for violations of the Saxon Crown Protection Ordinance. Four crimes were also recorded. This is resistance to law enforcement officers, attempted bodily harm, and the use of trademarks of unconstitutional organizations.
Controversial quote
Criticism and protests arose mainly on the date of the rally. Because April 20, Hitler’s birthday, is a day repeatedly used by the right-wing extremist scene for meetings. Also in the call for concentration (“80 by 80 million”) some recognize the extremist intention: on the scene, double eight means “Heil Hitler”. With some exceptions, Pegida always organizes its meetings on Mondays.
However, the left, the SPD, and various institutions drew attention to the connection to Hitler’s birthday. “Once again, Pegida shows how anti-solidarity and misanthropic this right-wing extremist group is,” said Albrecht Pallas, head of the Dresden SPD. The state capital reappears in the headlines because it approves of a racist demonstration. Pegida played for the risk of infection
By allowing the meeting to take place on April 20, a signal is sent “that will cause lasting damage to the reputation of the cultural city of Dresden among the international public,” said Semperoper director Peter Theiler. The association “Economy for a Cosmopolitan Saxony” disapproved of the decision with similar arguments.
