Road closures on Saturday
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AfD supporters and opponents demonstrate in Berlin
Several thousand people are currently demonstrating in Berlin’s government district against government policy in the energy crisis. The AfD called for this. Critics want to oppose it with eleven demonstrations.
AfD supporters are currently demonstrating in Berlin in front of the Reichstag building against the government’s policies. According to the Berlin police, around 3,000 participants initially came together on Republic Square for the opening rally.
Among other things, German flags could be seen at the AfD rally, but also Russian ones. Imperial flags and “Reichsbürger” symbolism were also shown. Posters had slogans like “Stop traffic light madness” or “Yes to nuclear power”.
Several counter-demonstrations were registered in response to the AfD event, the largest with 3,000 registered participants near the Reichstag building. At noon, people with shiny flags demonstrated at the Brandenburg Gate. Hundreds of people gathered in the immediate vicinity of the AfD demonstration with flags bearing slogans such as “No place for Nazis”.
4,000 people registered for the AfD demonstration
The AfD has called for protests under the motto “Energy security and protection against inflation – our country first”. From noon onwards there was a rally on the Republic Square in front of the Reichstag building in rainy weather, at which the AfD federal chairman Tino Chrupalla spoke; the co-chairwoman Alice Weidel, who had been planned as the second speaker, was ill.
After the rally, it was planned that the participants would march through Berlin-Mitte and later return to the starting point for the final rally.
According to police spokeswoman Beate Ostertag, a number of 4,000 participants were originally registered. On Saturday morning, the police still expected “a tendency towards more”. The AfD had mobilized nationwide for the protest.
Numerous counter-demonstrations
A number of organizations, alliances and initiatives want to hold counter-demonstrations from noon. They accuse the AfD of exploiting the rising costs of food and energy. As police spokeswoman Beate Ostertag told rbb on Saturday morning, a total of eleven counter-demonstrations have been registered. The police are expecting a number of participants in the “mid four-digit range”.
The initiative “Stand up against racism” and the alliance for a cosmopolitan and tolerant Berlin, which includes numerous organizations from the state sports association to the Central Council of Muslims in Germany, have called for the largest counter-demonstration. Contributions are planned by speakers from the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB), the Amadeu Antonio Foundation, the Evangelical Church, the Berlin Greens and the Berlin Left Party, among others.
This demonstration under the motto “Solidarity is our answer to the crisis!” With 3,000 registered participants, it was to take place from 1 p.m. on the meadow by the Reichstag building on Heinrich-von-Gagern-Straße – within hearing and sight of the AfD demonstration. A bicycle parade or a music demonstration, for example, were also registered as further protest events against the AfD demonstration.
The police reported no incidents until the early afternoon.
1,900 officers on duty
A total of around 40 meetings and elevators are registered in the city on Saturday, including on completely different topics. A complete list can be found at the Berlin police [berlin.de]. According to police spokeswoman Ostertag, 250 participants have been registered for the largest of these demonstrations, starting at Leopoldplatz.
1,900 police forces are deployed, including officers from other federal states.
It is unclear whether and to what extent problems with the train on Saturday morning affect or have affected the number of participants. It’s difficult to say, police said. A spokesman for the AfD said it can be assumed that there will be an impact. The Bundestag member Gunnar Lindemann suspected on Twitter that disruptions in train traffic were directly related to the AfD demonstration. “Just then” the railways will stop the train service to Berlin on a large scale, according to Lindemann.
obstructions in road traffic
Berliners have to be prepared for numerous road closures and diversions between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m.; Stopping bans apply in many places on the demonstration routes. The police advise motorists to avoid the city center during this period if possible.
Buses and trams will also only run to a limited extent along the demo routes. The BVG informed on Saturday about the restrictions on their website [unternehmen.bvg.de].
The police announced in advance that they wanted to ensure the freedom of demonstration for all participants. Should the AfD demo route be blocked, it could be the case that it will be diverted and that other streets will be affected.
Broadcast: rbb24 Inforadio, October 8th, 2022, 12 p.m