A loudspeaker announcement by the police during a so-called walk against corona measures in Koblenz caused a stir.
At the end of the demonstration on Monday evening with around 1200 participants, the announcement, according to a video available to the dpa news agency, said: “We, the police, thank you for the cooperative and peaceful protest you showed and for taking part in this walk.
We wish you a nice way home. ”A police spokesman confirmed these statements to the dpa on Wednesday by loudspeaker truck.
The Greens parliamentary deputy in the Rhineland-Palatinate state parliament, Carl-Bernhard von Heusinger with constituency in Koblenz, told the SWR: “Especially in view of the fact that this was an unannounced meeting, the police had to be at least neutral. Obviously that didn't happen here. "The Koblenz AfD politician Joachim Paul, member of the national executive committee of his party, said in a message with a view to the rally:" The AfD shows understanding for all peaceful strollers. "There were also many comments on the Internet .
The Koblenz police then announced on Twitter: “The criticism of our loudspeaker announcements on December 27th.
In #Koblenz, which has irritated many people, we take it very seriously.
We will endeavor to choose an unambiguous language in the future.
One thing is clear: the police will adhere to the principle of neutrality. "
In a second video from Monday evening in Koblenz, which is also available to the dpa, another police announcement states that a police vehicle will “be very happy to lead your meeting to pave the way for you through the city.
We are just waiting for your colleagues, comrades and meeting participants who have walked in the wrong direction. "
A police spokesman told the dpa that, according to case law, the lack of registration for a demo does not justify its dissolution if it proceeds peacefully.
"Accordingly, a counter-demonstration, which was also not registered, was not disbanded." For this, the police finally thanked them: "As you probably know, the previous gatherings were not always peaceful."