Mindelheim: 950 "walkers" - counter-demo stops after three events

Created: 02/08/2022Updated: 02/08/2022 15:04

By: Marco Tobisch

The corona pandemic - in particular the vaccination issue and political measures - is drawing people in Mindelheim onto the streets.

The police were also on duty on Monday and Wednesday last week, both times the operations were quiet.

© AOV

Mindelheim – “Mindelheim is responsible” has now gathered supporters three times at a counter-demo.

One of their goals was to mobilize more people for a corona vaccination.

Last week's event will be the last for the time being, as initiator Roland Ahne explained.

Meanwhile, according to police estimates, around 950 people took part in the "walk" through Mindelheim yesterday, Monday, to express their anger towards politicians.

Around 230 people met on Wednesday last week as part of the peaceful counter-demonstration on Marienplatz.

Peter Gorlitt from Mindelheim was present as a guest speaker: He described first-hand how a corona disease can affect it.

Because Gorlitt himself had spent ten days in the intensive care unit in the hospital after becoming infected and was dependent on oxygen.

"He conveyed that well," said Roland Ahne afterwards.

Gorlitt's roommate had even died of Corona.

The event lasted around 45 minutes.

There were no disturbances and the requirements of the district office were met, the police confirm.

Björn Lie and Fjolla Gashi provided the musical accompaniment.

In the future, however, there will be no more Wednesday demos, explains Roland Ahne when asked by our editors.

The reason for this is the rapidly increasing and still increasing incidence figures.

At the start of the week, the incidence in the Unterallgäu district was 1,637.9.

“Our motto is 'Mindelheim is responsible', and we want and have to live by that.

That is why events with so many visitors are a risk to health.

We definitely want to avoid that,” says Ahne.

The third mayor draws a positive conclusion about the three events at Marienplatz: "It was important to show the population that there are not only corona refusers, deniers and other dissatisfied people, but also radical thinkers, but also very many level-headed and responsible citizens who have a different opinion.”

The initiators received a lot of encouragement for their commitment, although there were also a few critical voices, Ahne said.

“Nevertheless, it was important and right to set this sign.

Perhaps we have succeeded in getting people who are still undecided about getting vaccinated to take this step after all.”

950 “walkers” in Mindelheim

Meanwhile, the majority of Monday walkers spoke out against vaccination and against political measures again yesterday.

According to the police, the event was once again peaceful and without incident.

An ambulance was deployed on Maximilianstrasse at the beginning of the meeting due to a medical emergency involving a local resident.

The district office had previously issued a new general decree.

After the start of the train had been postponed from 6 p.m. to 6.30 p.m. the week before in order to reduce the burden on retailers, road traffic and the residents of the city centre, another innovation was added on Monday: a ban on dogs.

A mask requirement for walkers, as requested by the SPD/FDP district parliamentary group, is still not part of the rules.

The district office justified the fact that the general decree had only been changed in this point by saying that most “walkers” adhered to the later start of the meeting at 6.30 p.m. and the distances according to the police were largely maintained thanks to the new route.

However, what was noticed on Monday last week: Several demonstrators had dogs with them.

This has been prohibited by general decree since this week.

“The mere appearance of the dogs made some congregants feel uncomfortable and frightened.

Even when different dogs met, there was always loud barking, which caused additional fears among the participants," the district office explained in the general decree.

It goes on to say: "In addition, dogs

The city center was closed half an hour before the start.

According to the police and district office, the route via Maximilianstrasse, Landsberger Strasse, Brennerstrasse, Rammingerstrasse, Reichenwallerstrasse, Teckstrasse and Kornstrasse has proven its worth.