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After the riots during an officially forbidden “lateral thinking” march in Kassel, the SPD has criticized the police's actions.
It was "an absolutely incomprehensible retreat of the state" that thousands of corona deniers were able to march through the city center of Kassel without masks and without any distance, said the parliamentary manager of the SPD parliamentary group, Günter Rudolph, according to the announcement.
The deployment concept of the police had obviously failed.
The bishop of the Evangelical Church of Kurhessen-Waldeck, Beate Hofmann, condemned the riots.
“Freedom of expression is a valuable asset that we are committed to protecting.
But behavior at a demo that does not observe the Corona rules and willfully accept the risk of infection is not a meaningful expression of free expression, but highly negligent and irresponsible, "said the bishop.
Disregard of the corona rules endanger human life.
Pepper spray and water cannon
At the large-scale demonstration against the corona containment measures, there had been several violent clashes between protesters from different camps and the police on Saturday.
Contrary to the judicially confirmed conditions of the city, thousands gathered in the city center and formed a demonstration, which was also forbidden.
Most did not adhere to the requirement to wear mouth and nose protection.
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Again and again there were clashes with counter-demonstrators during the move and massive beatings and shoving at a police cordon.
Journalists were attacked and verbally abused.
The police said they used baton and pepper spray.
Individuals were arrested.
The police reported "multiple attacks" by demonstrators on emergency services.
“We do not tolerate such attacks.
Peaceful protest looks different, "wrote the police on Twitter.
A reporter from the AFP news agency reported on the spot about scuffles between police officers and demonstrators.
Both sides clashed when rally participants tried to break through a chain of emergency services to get to other demonstrators.
At the Kassel Altmarkt, demonstrators threw bottles at the police and tried to break through a cordon, the police said.
Rescue workers then used a water cannon.
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A video that showed police officers clearing a bicycle lock from counter-demonstrators caused outrage on social media.
The police did not comment on this.
The police assumed that there were 15,000 to 20,000 demonstrators from the “lateral thinker” scene in the afternoon.
At the rally site approved by the Hessian Administrative Court in the periphery, only a few people were initially there, as the police reported.
Later, however, numerous men and women were also gathered there to demonstrate against Germany's corona policy.
On the central Friedrichsplatz in the afternoon, when the sun was shining, almost a picnic atmosphere developed without much distance, as eyewitnesses reported.
People ignored the prompts to go to the approved meeting place.
The police let the demonstrators have their way.
Reporters on site report a lively atmosphere and “Oh how is that nice” chants.
A protester discusses with a police officer on the sidelines of the prohibited demonstration
Source: AFP / ARMANDO BABANI
The police estimated the number of demonstrators at 15,000 to 20,000
Source: REUTERS
Participants stand in front of the State Theater at a rally
Source: dpa / Swen gatekeeper
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According to the decision of the Hessian Administrative Court (VGH) on Friday, demonstrations were only allowed on the Schwanenwiese exhibition grounds with up to 5000 participants and the adjacent German Unity Square with a maximum of 1000 people.
There are other requirements such as wearing a medical mask and a minimum distance of 1.50 meters between the individual participants.
The north Hessian city had initially banned the gatherings due to the recent increase in the number of corona infections.
It can also be assumed that mainly members of the “lateral thinker” scene will come, which is why, based on experiences in Kassel and elsewhere, it cannot be ruled out that corona-related requirements will be disregarded, the city argued.