German police have halted a march by 18,000 coronavirus sceptics in Berlin because protesters were failing to respect social distancing.
The mass protest against pandemic restrictions had been allowed to go ahead after a bitter legal battle.
But it had barely begun at the city's Brandenburg Gate when it was forced to stop due to a police injunction.
"The minimum distancing is not being respected by most [of the demonstrators] despite repeated requests," the police said. "There is no other option than to break up the gathering."
Police had vowed to turn out in force and strictly monitor compliance with mask-wearing and physical distancing at the protest.
Berlin's police chief, Barbara Slowik, had warned that if the demonstrators did not adhere to virus safety rules, police would clear the area "very quickly".
"We will not be able or willing to watch tens of thousands assemble and create infection risks," she added.
Angela Merkel said at a press conference on Friday that confronting the virus would become more challenging in the autumn and winter months.
The chancellor and the leaders of Germany's 16 federal states introduced tougher restrictions on Thursday, including a minimum €50 (£45) fine for people caught not wearing face masks where one is compulsory.
"We will have to live with this virus for a long time to come. It is still serious. Please continue to take it seriously," Merkel said.
Anne Helm, an MP from the leftwing party Die Linke, said: "There must be no tolerance towards racists, antisemites, rightwing extremists and Nazis. That is why I call on all Berliners to take part in the counter-events."
'Anti-corona' extremists try to storm German parliament
Police prevent hundreds from entering Reichstag and disband march protesting against Covid protection measureswww.theguardian.com
Alot of people going saying they are not racist but smart people....
Those are flag of the old Kaiserreich of WW1 prior to the third reich but I'm assuming OP is connecting them with being part of the far right.I don't speak German but I can't see any nazi symbols in the crowds. Apologies for my ignorance but could you explain a bit further?
Red white black are the colours of the Second Reich, and are traditionally associated with Nazis, as they also used them for their flag to "bring Germany back to its former glory".I don't speak German but I can't see any nazi symbols in the crowds. Apologies for my ignorance but could you explain a bit further?
Those are flag of the old Kaiserreich of WW1 but I'm assuming OP is connecting them with being part of the far right.
Thanks for the clarificationThat's the flag Nazis use in germany nowdays. Because a NSDAP/swastika flag will get them jailed.
when has this happened in Germany? Not denying Im just uninformedPathetic. Where's the usual violence they put to use against Antifa? No water throwers, no nothing. ACAB.
Thank you , I didn't hear about this .What? I'll refer you to the BLM Protests all over Germany, especially Hamburg. They went into those fists and water throwers swining. That never happens against fucking Nazis.
Don't think they had their kid gloves onPathetic. Where's the usual violence they put to use against Antifa? No water throwers, no nothing. ACAB.
Nazis are back. Not racists who can be compared to nazis. Not fascists who can be compared to nazis...But actual Nazis. In Germany. Actual German Nazis made a comeback in 2020.
Fuck 2020 so hard. Fuck this life. Fuck this timeline.
Waving the American flag has become synonymous with being a right-wing cunt, much like openly waving the German flag is frowned upon, even in Germany, outside of the world cup because of its Nazi connotations.Man seeing those American flags, ugh. There was an anti-mask protest on Parliament Hill (Ottawa) today and there was also American flags. Keep that American/Trump patriotism in America, at the very least.
I mean it is literally a symbol of the far right lolThose are flag of the old Kaiserreich of WW1 prior to the third reich but I'm assuming OP is connecting them with being part of the far right.
Dunno what thread to post this in (SilentPanda pls slow down) but will cross post
"Nazis" is really the wrong word here, it's one of the strangest mixes of people demonstrating I've ever seen. Nationalists and Neo-Nazis, yes, but also hippies/esoterics, libertarians, christian groups, all kinds of conspiracy theorists including QAnon stuff, anti-vaxxers and some anti-capitalists as well.
The mix of flags being used goes from German Empire, current German flag, Russian, American, Swedish, Israel, peace and a bunch of rainbow flags as well.
No idea how they can agree on anything, I think they don't actually.
Yeah I'm just used to them having police escorts in my country(US).In this case I could see myself just mildy tut tutting police violence when the water cannons and batons come out, but of course those are not anti-nuclear power protesters, black bloc or anti-Stuttgart 21, so low chance of a beatdown.
Grab everyone you can and fine them for any violation against the corona rules.
can someone give context/backstory to a foreigner? Not on Nazis of course, but on whatever lead to this?
It's not like they arrested just one guy. It's 300 and countingA single headlock doesn't compare at all to their usual level of violence. Just look at that Reichstag video. Were they Antifa, there'd have been an all out brawl instead of just empty posturing.
Yes, this is true."Nazis" is really the wrong word here, it's one of the strangest mixes of people demonstrating I've ever seen. Nationalists and Neo-Nazis, yes, but also hippies/esoterics, libertarians, christian groups, all kinds of conspiracy theorists including QAnon stuff, anti-vaxxers and some anti-capitalists as well.
The mix of flags being used goes from German Empire, current German flag, Russian, American, Swedish, Israel, peace and a bunch of rainbow flags as well.
No idea how they can agree on anything, I think they don't actually.
It's not like they arrested just one guy. It's 300 and counting