- Title: German protesters say coronavirus restrictions violate their rights
- Date: 23rd May 2020
- Summary: FRANKFURT, GERMANY (MAY 23, 2020) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF POLICE AND PROTESTERS PROTESTER BEING LED AWAY PROTEST POLICE PROTESTER HOLDING SIGN LISTING HUMAN RIGHTS PROTESTER HOLDING SIGN READING (German): "We are not right, we are not left, we are for constitutional rights" PROTESTER HOLDING SIGN READING (German): "Freedom for prisoners in seniors homes" SIGN READING (German): "Constitutional rights truth" MAN ON MICROPHONE CROWD CLAPPING VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS PROTESTER IN T-SHIRT READING (German): "Don't give (Bill) Gates a chance" PROTESTERS (SOUNDBITE) (German) PROTESTER, JOHANNES LIVELLI, SAYING: "I'm here because I believe that we need freedom for each person to be responsible for themselves in Germany. We need to show our faces and confirm that each person is responsible for themselves in dealing with this virus." (SOUNDBITE) (German) PROTESTER, PETRA OBERMEYER, SAYING: "What's my message? I want to protest against the government, against this entire ploy and the restrictions. Honestly, I feel fooled when politicians sit in parliament, the foyer, the cafeteria, or privately in bars without physical distancing or a mask. It only affects us as the population. We were voluntarily at home for 2.5 months. No contact with our children or grandchildren, and then I experience such a thing. I feel fooled." VARIOUS OF SIGN READING (German): "HANDS AWAY FROM CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS" PROTESTER MARTINA BRANDNER HOLDING SIGN READING (German): "Mandatory vaccination and immunity proof are unconstitutional in our democracy" (SOUNDBITE) (German) PROTESTER, MARTINA BRANDNER, SAYING: "This is what the (German health minister Jens) Spahn said and would like. It's being thought of as Europe-wide and being unbiased, will affect our constitutional rights. Freedom will be counted over the health of the 00.37 percent mortality rate due to COVID." PROTESTERS VARIOUS OF POLICE VARIOUS OF COUNTER DEMO COUNTER DEMO / DEMO
- Embargoed: 6th June 2020 15:48
- Keywords: ECB Frankfurt Germany coronavirus coronavirus restrictions demo protest
- Location: FRANKFURT, GERMANY
- City: FRANKFURT, GERMANY
- Country: Germany
- Topics: Health/Medicine
- Reuters ID: LVA001CF5GEVB
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Around 200 people in Frankfurt, Germany's financial centre, protested outside of the European Central Bank against coronavirus restrictions on Saturday (May 23).
Although restrictions have been eased in the country, the protesters argued that their implementation was a violation of constitutional rights.
"We need freedom for each person to be responsible for themselves," protester Johannes Livelli said, among protesters who held signs criticising the restrictions.
Germany has withstood the pandemic much better than the United States, Britain and Italy, partly thanks to widespread virus testing, an excellent healthcare system and strict lockdown measures introduced in mid-March.
The country already began easing its lockdown earlier this month, with playgrounds, museums, shops and restaurants now open.
The protest took place on the same day that the head of Frankfurt's health department told a news agency that more than 40 people have tested positive for the novel coronavirus following a church service in the city.
Churches in the German state of Hesse, where Frankfurt is located, have been able to hold services since May 1 provided they adhere to official social distancing and hygiene rules.
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Germany increased by 638 to 177,850, data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases showed on Saturday. The reported death toll rose by 42 to 8,216, the tally showed.
(Production: Timm Reichert, Annkathrin Weis, Barbara Woolsey) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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