Germany: Berlin Police Ban Pro-Palestinian Demonstration

Cite anti-Semitic hate speech and calls for violence.

A planned pro-Palestinian protest march in the Berlin neighborhood of Kreuzberg has been banned by Berlin police due to fears of anti-Semitic hate speech and calls for violence based on recent demonstrations of a similar nature.

Normally, I defend the right of free speech and protest based on my American values and our own Constitution. At the same time, Germany has different laws as does the rest of Europe. Of course, the Germans, given their history, must be especially sensitive to anti-Jewish rhetoric. They have learned through experience that pro-Palestinian events in Germany and elswhere are full of anti-Jewish rhetoric, and they are correct in trying to protect their Jewish citizens from this resurgence of anti-Semitism-imported anti-Semitism- in their country.

The below article from Berliner Morgenpost is translated by Fousesquawk.

 https://www.morgenpost.de/berlin/article235207095/Pro-Palaestinensische-Demonstration-verboten-600-Polizisten-vor-Ort.html

After emergency application: Pro-Palestinian demonstration remains banned

Caption beneath photo: A pro-Palestinian demonstration in Kreuzberg has been banned. The administrative court is now examining an emergency application

The administrative court has rejected an emergency application from the organizer. Nevertheless, the Berlin police are in large scale deployment

Posted 4-29-22, 17:07/ Reading time: 5 minutes

-Julian Wuerzer

Berlin. The pro-Palestinian demonstration announced for Friday in Kreuzberg remains banned for the time being. The Administrative Court of Berlin rejected an emergency application against the police ban on Friday, according to a court spokesperson. Initially, it was not clear if the organizer would appeal to the Higher Administrative Court. “I welcome (the fact that) the position of the Assembly Authority has been confirmed. Anti-Semitism has no place in our city,” stated interior senator Iris Spranger (SPD).

After anti-Semitic outbursts at a pro-Palestinian demonstration last weekend, the Berlin police banned an announced demonstration for this Friday with a similar orientation. There is the danger that hateful and anti-Semitic speech, calls for violence, intimidation, and violence may occur, it is said. On Thursday evening, the police stated that the examination by the Assembly Authority, “is based on experiences in the recent past.”

In addition, substitute events are banned up to and including May 1.

The organizer of the demonstration complained about the police ban. The administrative court in Berlin received an equivalent emergency request, said a court spokeswoman on Friday. The court ruled the same day. The demonstration was reported as a “protest demonstration against the Israeli aggression in Jerusalem”. The march would begin on Orianienplatz and proceed along Oranienstrasse (street) and Kotbusserdam to Hermannplatz.