Large and small corona protests in Bad Tölz, Lenggries and Reichersbeuern

Created: 01/21/2022, 06:00

By: Daniel Wegscheider

SPD district councilor Filiz Cetin addressed clear words to the corona skeptics on Monday evening on Tölzer Marktstrasse.

© Daniel Wegscheider

Bad Tölz – Despite the freezing cold, many opponents of the Corona measures were out and about in the district on Monday evening.

Counter-demonstrators criticize this on the Tölzer Marktstrasse.

But unlike the week before, on Monday (January 17) in the district town of Bad Tölz, significantly fewer so-called walkers were circling on Marktstraße.

But this time there was more going on in Lenggries.

It's Monday evening, 6 p.m.

And the Tölzer Marktstraße is still almost deserted except for a few passers-by who have come from shopping.

The team led by Andreas Richter, the organizer of the registered counter-demonstration, only set up loudspeakers down at the Marienbrunnen.

A short time later, around 50 people will be standing there listening to the speakers, who will pick up the microphone and voice their concerns, concerns and warnings about the Monday walks.

Half an hour later, several police vehicles arrived and the officers spread out on Marktstraße and blocked off the section to the upper Marktstraße.

There the "walkers" march, some with candles or lanterns in their hands or fairy lights around their necks, from the winegrower monument down to the level of the Klammergasse and from there back again.

The crowd was in Lenggries

Police Chief Inspector Andreas Rohrhofer

With 200 "walkers" there were significantly fewer in Bad Tölz than in the previous week (700).

"The crowd was in Lenggries," reports Police Chief Inspector Andreas Rohrhofer.

There, around 500 corona skeptics marched through the town center.

Another 100 were on the road in Reichersbeuern.

The police determined the number of people in the city and the two communities using a click counter.

Overall, the demonstrations were peaceful and nothing bad happened, Rohrhofer continues: "Even if the two parties don't see eye to eye, no one clashed." However, many police officers from Bad Tölz had to be withdrawn to Lenggries to block traffic there secure, "since the streets were closed here".

Counter-demonstrators by the “walkers” in Bad Tölz point out the danger of corona

At the Marienbrunnen on the Tölzer Marktstraße, the counter-demonstrators of the “walkers” gathered on Monday evening and gave their opinion.

Green district councilor Teresa Wimmer read a letter from Susanne Reichhardt-Geisbauer, who is a doctor at the Wolfratshausen district clinic.

She warns: "Fear and panic have never been a good advisor."

In Bad Tölz, police officers separate opponents of the Corona measures, who were in the upper part of Marktstrasse, from those in favor of them in the lower area at the Marienbrunnen.

© Daniel Wegscheider

Doctor at the district clinic in Wolfratshausen sends a letter to the "walkers"

The doctor continues: "Every day, colleagues, doctors and nurses risk their lives to save people with contagious diseases," she reports.

"Nevertheless, we are not running away from our social responsibility because we believe in social interaction that works through solidarity."

Reichhardt-Geisbauer also emphasized that the probability of getting side effects from the vaccination is negligible, "in contrast to the higher probability of contracting corona".

She also criticized the fact that “many of those who are now clamoring against vaccination would have no problem getting the necessary vaccinations for a long-distance trip, regardless of the possible side effects.

But it was in your own interest."

We decide whether the virus will bring less pain and suffering

SPD district councilor Filiz Cetin

Then SPD district councilor Filiz Cetin stepped up to the lectern at the Marienbrunnen.

"We are in the third year of the pandemic," she said.

"Certainly we all feel that we wish for a normal life again." But this depends largely on each individual.

"We decide whether the virus will bring less pain and suffering with it."

SPD district councilor criticizes the security measures of the "walkers"

Cetin is of the opinion that after three years of clarification by virologists, doctors and scientists, the risk of corona and the explosive nature of the topic have been recognized by all citizens. According to the SPD district councilor, the vaccination rate in Germany is 75 percent. But the so-called walkers would also show a different picture: “Without a mask, without a safety distance, without coordinating escape routes, they not only endanger themselves, but also many others.”

Speaking of danger. "There would also be vaccinated people among the walkers who walk along because they are against compulsory vaccination," Cetin explained. With a view to the crowd without distance and mask, she wonders how someone who has protected himself could put "so many children and adults who are not vaccinated" in danger. "Because even vaccinated people cannot rule out being able to pass on the virus."

Police Chief Inspector Andreas Rohrhofer cannot judge how things will continue on the coming Monday evenings.

"It's going to be exciting," he says.

Especially with a view to the debate about compulsory vaccination.

Rohrhofer expects that the period of deliberations and voting in the Bundestag will be another peak phase for the protest marches, "where many demonstrators are to be expected".

But the weather can also be decisive: “If the weather is bad, fewer people will probably come.”

Mayor Ingo Mehner's opinion on the Monday walks in Tölz

“Privately, I have a very differentiated opinion on this question.

We have been living under very onerous restrictions for two years now.

Everyone perceives this differently.

Entire industries are suffering, just look at the cultural sector, gastronomy or the tourism industry.

From my point of view there is only one way out of it: through vaccinations.

In my function as a representative of the city, it is important to me to unite the residents of Tölzer.

We are a city community and should still be able to look each other in the eye after the pandemic is over.

It is therefore absolutely necessary that we remain in a fair exchange together.

In a democracy, demonstrations are a legitimate means of expressing one's opinion, and this right must be protected at all costs.

At the same time, however, I would like to appeal for these meetings to be held in accordance with the applicable law.

I think it is important and right to register meetings of this kind.

Not for control, not to stifle an opinion.

At meetings and other events, there are always those responsible who can reduce risks through planning and also react in unusual situations.

One example is securing escape routes or emergency lanes.

We have currently organized a crowd of several hundred people in the narrow Marktstraße, privately, but nobody wants to be responsible if something happens.”