Read the video transcript here
Demonstrators:
“Shame on you!
Shame on yourselves! ”
“ Join us!
Join!"
An evening "walk" in Freiberg, Saxony - that was how it was announced and that should sound like no problem.
But that's not it.
Because it is a protest against the corona measures.
And meetings are currently prohibited in Saxony.
Police announcement:
"Your meeting violates the Saxon Corona Emergency Ordinance, it is not registered and also not approved."
The "Free Saxons" called for protests in numerous cities in the state over the weekend.
A very small party that is being closely monitored by the Saxon constitution protection agency.
He classified them as right-wing extremist and anti-constitutional.
Among the around 650 participants in Freiberg are families with children, but also right-wing extremists.
The police are well prepared, with many officers on site.
Eventually she encircled part of the protest march in a side street.
Demonstrator:
"Now they are there, you are being filmed, you tend to be arrested, you may have to pay a fine."
Jana Ulbricht, police spokeswoman:
»The specific allegation is participation in an elevator, which is currently not permitted.
According to the Corona Emergency Ordinance, this is proven in Saxony with an elevator of around 250 euros. "
After the police intervene, the mood becomes more aggressive.
Demonstrators:
"Resistance!"
"I'm being held!" - "Set him free!"
What are these people concerned about?
Why are you so angry?
And why is it so important to them to take to the streets that they risk a fine?
Our team would like to know that from the demonstrators.
The only thing is that most of them don't want to talk to SPIEGEL at all at first, the mood towards journalists is hostile.
Protester and protester:
»No, this is not a medium that even reports properly.
You can do without it.
We know how framing is done and how people are then represented. "
Protester: “You don't.”
DER SPIEGEL: “Why not?
You can see how you report. "
Protester: “Yes, it is better you go over there.
DER SPIEGEL: "Wait it out please."
Protester: "Lies press!"
Demonstrators "lying press, with you talking eh no."
Demonstrators: "Go talk by" Me nee not film.
DER SPIEGEL: "Grasp not to us. "
DER SPIEGEL: "But if nobody talks to us, we can't send anything."
Demonstrator: "Then you can go home again with that stupid muzzle alone.
I can't do anything with people like that. "
A few give interviews after all.
One man in particular gets involved with media representatives, speaks extensively with the mdr and also with our team.
He criticizes the actions of the police, the measures in general and the media.
Demonstrator:
“That is a basic right and I don't have to register a basic right.
And on Mondays I can go for a walk as long and as often as I want. "
" I'm just fighting for my grandson, my children and my existence.
And they partially destroyed them. "
" But you have to see how you put people in the right corner.
And that's all the press that does that.
Everything moves into the right corner there.
Someone who has a different opinion on the C-issue will a) not be heard and b) be strangled.
Then it's a sworn, then it's a lateral thinker, people who have a normal mind. "
Ultimately, he is warned by other demonstrators not to speak to the media at all.
Protester:
“They'll make you an idiot on TV again later.
Stop it, they'll turn the word around in your mouth.
Stop it, don't do that to yourself, listen to me. "
Demonstrator:
" Yes, I can believe you. "
Demonstrator:
" They'll make a monkey out of you again, as always, no matter what you say here. "
Demonstrator:
"That can be clarified in other ways, if they make me a monkey."
Eventually the police break up the meeting.
Police announcement:
»You will now be subjected to an identity check.
We ask you to come along voluntarily and not to offer any resistance. "
To make things go faster, the police take photos of the participants for identity checks.
She records the personal details of around 450 people.
They then part relatively peacefully.
The demonstrations will not be the last, however.
And protection of the constitution and interior ministers are already warning that the protests could escalate further in the future - especially if the general vaccination should come.
