Despite the corona virus: climate youth plans a demonstration in Bern

Despite the ban, more demonstrations have been announced; now the pressure on politics is increasing

Climate activists announce a street action in the city of Bern for Friday. The pressure on politics increases to make mini demos possible again. Bern’s director of security currently cares about a completely different group.

Civil rights remain restricted: the Federal Council decided on Wednesday not to relax the ban on the assembly. Although cities like Zurich and Bern are under increasing pressure to find a suitable demonstration regime during the Crown period. Because despite the ban, the next demonstrations are just around the corner.

Melting glaciers at the Berner Gassen

Climate strikers in Bern are planning a street action next Friday. On the national campaign day of the “Strike for Future” movement, activists don’t just want to demonstrate online. Instead, symbolically melting a glacier in downtown Bern, as Watson has learned. About 20 people are planned for the campaign. “We will dress in white and shout slogans. Of course, we wear masks and try to comply with the distance rules, “explains a climate striker.

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Climate strikers had already carried out an illegal protest during the federal session. Police immediately evicted about 15 protesters. There was also a poster campaign on Monday in front of the Zurich Cantonal Council, in which police arrested two activists.

In the federal city, politicians are torn by patience due to the ban on crown demonstrations. “It’s stupid. You can go shopping at the H&M and drink beer in the pub. But mini demos with five people are still banned, “said SP’s national councilor, Tamara Funiciello.

For the Bernese woman, it is clear that freedom of assembly and expression must also be guaranteed in times of crisis. Examples from other countries like Israel showed that demonstrations are also possible with distance rules. “It is even conceivable that the organizers of the show will have to present a concept of health in the future.”

Funiciello is supported by Bern’s constitutional lawyer Jörg Paul Müller: “If groups of five are tolerated in public space, this should also apply if they carry a political poster. The rules must be the same for everyone, “says Professor Emeritus to the federal government.

The Bern city government sticks to its hard line. Only the Federal Council can lift the ban on demonstration. That is why it continues to apply, even for small groups, “Bernese security director Reto Nause told watson.

Another caliber of a handful of climate strikers is the renewed demonstration of lockdown opponents for the city of Bern, which was announced on Saturday.

In recent weeks, 5G opponents, conspiracy theorists, vaccination opponents and internet activists have protested in several cities against the measures decided by the Federal Council. Among them were many children and people with disabilities.

Although protesters fought for all the distance rules of the crown, the police watched for a long time until the demonstration was dissolved. Many participants received announcements.

Do the officers intervene earlier next Saturday? Nause does not want to comment on the details: “The police were instructed to avoid the planned demonstration. It is a very difficult task, “continues the director of security.

After the demonstration last Saturday, he received numerous emails from angry citizens from various fields. “The emotions are getting more violent, which worries me,” said Nause.