Attorney Roland Meister was acquitted today by the Essen-Steele district court of the charge of leading an unannounced meeting on December 12, 2019 at the Steeler Christmas market against the fascist “Steeler boys”. The constructed “evidence” was so thin that even the prosecutor did not uphold the charge and pleaded for acquittal.
A good 50 people had gathered in front of the district court on Grendplatz before the trial began to show their solidarity with Roland Meister. Quite a few passers-by and residents listened with interest. You saw people from various migrant organizations and from the Kurdish association in Essen, from the MLPD and the youth association REBELL, from the non-partisan local election alliance Essen stands UP, from the VVN and the internationalist alliance. Journalists from Kurdish and Turkish newspapers also came. A message of greeting came from progressive lawyers in Turkey.
Since only ten visitors were allowed into the courtroom due to Corona, many waited outside. They received Roland Meister with jubilation and relief. The judgment is an important achievement in the fight against the so-called “Steeler boys” and all other racists and fascists, as well as in the fight to defend the rights of lawyers and the right of assembly on an anti-fascist basis.
See also my report from yesterday
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