“ The end of the pandemic: freedom day ” is one of their slogans. This is not the first time they have marched through German streets since the end of confinement. This Saturday, August 1, they were 15,000 according to the police to tread the German pavement in front of the Brandenburg Palace. They consider their fundamental rights violated with the restrictive measures to fight against the coronavirus pandemic. For them, these were not necessary to contain a virus that many consider harmless.
Socially and politically from all walks of life, there are conspirators, libertarians, loyalists and neo-Nazis in their ranks. The motto of the protest, " Freedom Day ", is also the title of a film by Nazi director Leni Riefenstahl about Adolf Hitler's NSDAP party conference in 1935.
Difficult compliance with barrier measures
Wearing a mask and social distancing, however compulsory, were little respected. 1,500 agents were deployed to supervise the demonstrators. Using megaphones, the police repeatedly called on the demonstrators to respect barrier gestures.
The authorities then announced on Twitter that they had " filed a complaint " against the organizer of the event because of " non-compliance with hygiene rules ".
A counter-demonstration for peace
The “ anti-coronavirus ” demonstration was not unanimous in Germany. At the same time, several thousand demonstrators also took to the streets of Berlin to show their support for the government and to call for justice and peace.
Politicians like Saskia Esken, head of the Social Democrats, a minority party in the government coalition with Angela Merkel's conservatives, lambasted these “ Covidiots ”. “ Without distance, without mask: they not only endanger our health, but also our success against the pandemic and for the revival of the economy, education and society. Irresponsible! She tweeted.
Jan Redmann, leader of the CDU in the parliament of the Land of Brandenburg, estimated on this same social network: “ 1,000 new infections per day again and in Berlin there are demonstrations against the anti-coronavirus measures? We can no longer afford these dangerous absurdities ”.