- Title: Thouands march in Berlin against COVID restrictions
- Date: 28th August 2021
- Summary: BERLIN, GERMANY (AUGUST 28, 2021) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PROTEST MARCH DEMONSTRATORS HOLDING PLACARDS, READING (German) 'I HAVE MY OWN OPINION', 'LIVE DEMOCRACY', 'WAKE UP' DEMONSTRATOR DRESSED AS A BEE HOLDING PLACARD, READING (English) 'WE ARE REVOLUTION' MORE DEMONSTRATION DEMONSTRATORS WITH ANONYMOUS MASK DEMONSTRATOR HOLDING PLACARD, READING (German) 'DO WE HAVE TO BUY OUR HUMAN RIGHT BY GETTING VACCINATED?' MORE OF DEMONSTRATION DEMONSTRATORS WITH RED NOSE AND WHISTLE (SOUNDBITE) (German) ANJA DIERSCHKE, SPOKESPERSON POLICE BERLIN, SAYING: "We have had a variety of demonstrations reported to us of which were six demonstrations with coronavirus aspects were banned. All others were allowed to take place, Querdenken (protest against coronavirus measures) related, Afghanistan related, and last but not least a big parade "Train of love' with some 8,000 participants." POLICE CAR (SOUNDBITE) (German) ANJA DIERSCHKE, SPOKESPERSON POLICE BERLIN, SAYING: "The were some attacks on local forces coming out of those demonstrations, throwing bottles or physical assaults. At the moment we can report some 80 detentions. Unfortunately, we must also report four injured police. So we can not talks about a totally peaceful demonstration."
- Embargoed: 11th September 2021 16:07
- Keywords: Berlin COVID Querdenker coronavirus coronavirus measures
- Location: BERLIN, GERMANY
- City: BERLIN, GERMANY
- Country: Germany
- Topics: Europe,Health/Medicine
- Reuters ID: LVA001ES715C7
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Thousands marched in Berlin on Saturday (August 28) to protest against restrictions aimed at limiting the spread of the coronavirus pandemic even after demonstrations were banned.
Police said protesters had gathered for unauthorised marches in different parts of the city centre and said they had pulled about 50 people out of the crowd, in some cases charging them with assaulting officers.
The protesters, few of whom were wearing face mask, shouted "Freedom" and carried banners with slogans like "I have my own opinion and "Covid-84" in a reference to George Orwell's book "1984" about a totalitarian state.
The march comes a month before a federal election in Germany. The leading candidates vying to replace Chancellor Angela Merkel have pledged there will be no return to the strict lockdowns of last year and earlier this year.
However, the country faces a fourth wave of infections. It reported a rise of 10,303 coronavirus cases on Saturday. The death toll increased by 22, bringing the total to more than 3.9 million.
To nudge more people to get vaccinated, the government has said it will stop offering free tests from Oct. 11, except for those for whom vaccination is not recommended, such as children and pregnant women.
The government will require people to be either vaccinated, test negative or have a recovery certificate to enter indoor restaurants, participate in religious ceremonies and do indoor sport.
(Production: Holger Koerner, Max Schwarz, Gabi Sajonz, Ute Swart) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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