Strong police forces at pro-Palestinian demonstration
The police in Wuppertal are preparing for a pro-Palestinian demonstration on Saturday afternoon (2 p.m.) with strong forces. According to the police, the rally has been registered under the slogan "Stop Israeli war crimes". The organizers are expecting 1000 participants. However, as a rally in Düsseldorf was canceled at the same time, the number of participants could also be higher. Not far away, a pro-Israeli rally has been registered in Wuppertal city center at the same time.
"The police expect the rally to be peaceful, but are nevertheless preparing intensively for the event and will be on site with a large number of police officers," said a spokesperson. Above all, care will be taken to ensure that there is no incitement to violence or hatred against Israel or the Jewish population.
The police guidelines for the demonstration are also intended to ensure this: "The right of the state of Israel to exist must not be called into question. Express solidarity with the terrorist organization Hamas is prohibited," emphasized the police spokesperson. This will be checked for posters, flags or shouted slogans.
Despite the police's preparation for a peaceful demonstration, conflicts between pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli groups cannot be ruled out, given the passion and intensity of the competing viewpoints. In light of previous demonstrations, it's crucial for demonstrators to adhere strictly to the guidelines set by the police to prevent any escalation of demonstrations into conflicts.
Source: www.dpa.com
