Around 700 participants in a demo that was officially reported as two events demonstrated on Sunday in Passau against infection protection measures in times of the pandemic.
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In order to protect against infection, the city’s public order office has limited the number of participants in the monastery garden to 350 each. The counter-demonstration next to the Konzerthauswiese with around 80 participants was reported by the Green Youth and the Jusos Passau. A large number of police forces around the New Center ensured that conditions were complied with as far as possible. The Ringstrasse was closed.
The group events under the motto “Corona_Jugend_Informiert” and “Let’s finally open up!” Opposed the strict rules to contain Covid. There was a stage on site where speakers and musicians from both actions stood. The meetings were not separate. “Lateral thinking Weiden” could be read on the stands. Janko Williams, a lawyer from Berlin, moderated the meeting.
Police: onlookers within the “acceptable framework”
The police counted 700 participants at the beginning of the event and then did not let any more through. There were therefore onlookers – but within an “acceptable framework”, as a police spokesman said. Similar to concerts or festivals, matching merchandising articles were sold on the fringes of the event: stickers with the demand “Söder must go” for street lamps were just as much a part of the range as everyday masks with inscriptions such as “Muzzle”, “Protection against fines” or “Dictatorship”, and Flyer warning, among other things, of the dangers of vaccination.
The speakers urged freedom and self-determination. “Corona_Jugend_Informiert” had already made public statements before the demo. At its head is Antonia Kelnberger, who formulated her request together with Anna: “We have to bring the course back to the right values, instead of simply massively restricting our right to freedom and self-determination.”
Passau gynecologist explains his attitude towards masks
The Passau gynecologist Ronald Weikl explained his assessment of masks and vaccinations at the lectern. His colleagues and the media would create a climate of fear. He thinks it’s frightening how little people defend themselves against it. One of the conditions imposed by the city at the demo was that participants who present a medical certificate that exempts them from the mask requirement must wear a visor instead.
Speaker: “Nowhere are there such strict rules as in Passau”
The organizers had sued against this – and, according to the OB office, lost. On Sunday, therefore, the police discussed with inconsiderate visitors who they did not want to allow in the garden to the demo. From a speaker on the stage it was said: “Nowhere are there such strict rules as in Passau.”
Nevertheless, there were reminders from the moderator to comply with the mask requirement – and it was also said: “Anyone who utters Nazi slogans or the like is thrown out.” Demonstrators said: “We are the majority, we are the sovereign.” They urged “hands off our children” or emphasized: “I will not be vaccinated”. In addition, participants turned against the “pandemic of lies” or chanted: “Söder must go”.
Bruno Banane sings – and thanks
One of the musicians at Klosterarten was Bruno Banane, who expressed his joy at the number of participants who had come from many parts of Germany with “Dankeschön Passau”. The organizers praised the police officers, who had “a criminal boss” but were only doing their job. A police spokesman spoke of an overall peaceful event. There were no arrests. About ten people were reported to have violated the mask requirement and stopped to collect data.
Counter demo by Greens and Jusos
The “counter demo”, which was registered by the Greens and Jusos Passau, was almost circled by officials. The participants there called for solidarity, for example by saying that everyone should “stick together with distance and mask”.
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