- "Cross-thinkers" demonstrate in Berlin
On the fourth anniversary of the large "Reclaim Freedom" demonstration against the then Corona measures, thousands of protesters marched through Berlin once again. Near the Victory Column in the Tiergarten district, they gathered for a rally organized by the "Reclaim Freedom 711" movement under the theme "Freedom, Peace, Joy". The pandemic was also a topic this time, but the participants' concerns went beyond that.
Doves of peace and peace signs
Some held banners demanding "accountability for Corona measures" and "consequences for those responsible". Other participants waved flags with the dove of peace or held posters with the slogan "Create peace without weapons", a remnant of the peace movement era. The peace sign was also seen several times.
Criticism of the traffic light coalition was not only hinted at: "Away with the full idiots of the government - For regionalism, direct democracy, power limitation." Posters of the party "The Base", which is considered the political arm of the "Reclaim Freedom" movement, read "peaceful instead of warlike", a response to Federal Defense Minister Boris Pistorius' (SPD) statement that Germany must be combat-ready by 2029.
Police: Demonstration peaceful
According to the Berlin police, the demonstration and rally passed off peacefully in the late afternoon without any incidents. No arrests were made. However, there were repeated violations of the ban on displaying posters related to the magazine "Compact", which has been classified as right-wing extremist by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution and has since been banned.
The number of participants was not yet finally determined by the police, but according to their estimates, around 9,000 people took part in the demonstration, with 5,000 registered and 17,000 for the subsequent rally. The police deployed a total of 500 officers. Several counter-demonstrations took place parallel to the demo and rally.
Despite the ongoing pandemic, the "Reclaim Freedom 711" movement organized a protest march with a theme of "Freedom, Peace, Joy", drawing thousands to the Victory Column in Berlin. During this march, some participants carried banners demanding accountability for Corona measures and peace signs, echoing the calls for a peaceful nation instead of a warlike one.
