Peaceful demonstration in Weiden: Solidarity for Gaza is growing!

Peaceful demonstration in Weiden: Solidarity for Gaza is growing!

On Saturday afternoon, a pro-Palestinian demonstration took place on the Naabwiesen car park in Weiden, in which around 100 to 150 people took part. The participants were particularly committed to humanitarian aid for the population in the Gaza Strip and expressed sharp criticism of the approach of the Israeli army in the ongoing Middle East conflict. The rally was organized by a private individual and went in a peaceful atmosphere accompanied by music and applause. The majority of the demonstrators belonged to the Turkish-Arab community of the region.

With speech choirs, the participants demanded an end to violence, aid deliveries to Gaza and international solidarity. Transparents with messages such as "Free Palestine", "stops the genocide" and "Israel bombed - Germany financed" adorned the meeting. The high proportion of women among the demonstrators was particularly remarkable. At the end of the event, the participants stacked symbolically white boxes that were intended for aid deliveries that cannot get into the area. These boxes were labeled with personal wishes and expressions of solidarity.

Security and reactions

The police were present with a larger contingent, but mostly stayed in the background. An individual who called a prohibited slogan was called for order both by the organizers and the police. Some counter -demonstrators who wore Israel flags were expelled from the meeting place by the officials. The city of Weiden was cooperative in the handling of the meeting; All security requirements were observed and a police intervention was not necessary.

Some participants reported that Palestinian-born people only took part in it. This is attributed to a possible fear of repression or social stigmatization. In the past few months there have been numerous pro-Palestinian demos in Germany, especially after Hamas' terrorist attack on Israel on October 7th. According to bpb.de, it is important to distinguish between the support of the Palestinian civilian population and the consent to violent groups such as Hamas, since some demonstrations Sliding.

social and legal context

The legal situation in Germany is tense. The controversial slogan "From the River to the Sea" is interpreted differently, which leads to uncertainties. While the district court in Berlin imposed a fine for the approval of crimes, the district court of Mannheim decided that the slogan was covered by freedom of expression. These different judgments show how different the legal interviews are depending on the federal state. A uniform legal framework is only expected by the Federal Constitutional Court, since different decisions lead to confusion and many people could prevent them from perceiving their right to freedom of assembly. This state, known as "chilling effect", should not be underestimated.

The protests described and the accompanying legal challenges reflect the complex social currents. Amnesty International is also in favor of the right to freedom of assembly, but at the same time sets clear limits when it comes to calls for violence. The protection of Jewish people in Germany remains a state duty, but can sometimes be repressive against other groups. In view of the ongoing conflicts in the region and the continuous discussions about anti -Semitism, the topic is more current than ever.