After two controversial police operations in Hamburg and Düsseldorf, people in both cities are protesting against police violence. In Hanau, the attack about six months ago is being remembered.
Hamburg / Düsseldorf (dpa) - Several hundred people demonstrated against police violence on Saturday in Hamburg and Düsseldorf.
According to the organizers, around 300 demonstrators gathered for a rally in the North Rhine-Westphalian state capital. The police officially refused to give an estimate of the number of participants. The applicants had expected up to 5000 participants. According to the police, around 250 people protested against racist police violence in Hamburg. On banners and posters it was said: "We condemn all kinds of police violence" and "Solidarity at all times".
In both cities, controversial police operations had recently made headlines. In Düsseldorf it was about an event a week ago: After a young person insulted and physically assaulted police officers and defended himself against his arrest, the 15-year-old was fixed on the ground by the officers. A police officer pressed the youth's head on the floor with his knee. The investigation into the incident is ongoing. NRW Interior Minister Herbert Reul (CDU) had declared on Thursday in the interior committee of the state parliament that the technology was basically permissible.
The background to the Hamburg demonstration was a police operation from the beginning of the week in the Neustadt. A video on Twitter shows eight officers bring down a 15-year-old. According to the police, the youngster had repeatedly used the sidewalk with an electric scooter in violation of the prohibition. He then did not comply with the request to identify himself.
The demonstration was registered by the left parliamentary group, the Hamburg alliance against the right, the Hamburg pier and other groups. The 15-year-old's mother should also be among the participants. After the rally around 100 people went to the scene and hung up a banner. The demonstrators also remembered the victims of the racist attack with nine dead in Hanau around six months ago.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 200822-99-268514 / 2
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