Berlin – May 1st in Germany is an occasion for rallies and demonstrations every year, which have often gotten out of hand in the past. In Berlin-Kreuzberg in particular, there have been riots by left-wing autonomous groups since 1987. However, violence has decreased significantly in recent years.
Nevertheless, the Berlin police want to accompany the demonstrations in the capital with thousands of officers and a great deal of technical effort: More than 5,500 police officers from Berlin, many other federal states and the federal police are expected to be deployed throughout the city on Wednesday. The background is primarily the Middle East conflict.
The left-wing extremist scene generally remains in the focus of the security authorities, said Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) to the Editorial Network Germany (RND). One in four left-wing extremists can now be classified as violence-oriented.
Largest demo in Kreuzberg and Neukölln
According to the latest figures, more than 20 demonstrations were registered in the capital. The largest of these is the so-called Revolutionary 1. May demonstration by left-wing and left-wing extremist groups in the evening in Kreuzberg and Neukölln with ten thousand expected participants.
According to the police, the route – including Sonnenallee in Neukölln, which is known for its Arabic-style shops and restaurants – was specifically chosen to attract as many pro-Palestinian demonstrators as possible. The recent dissolution of a Palestine congress and the Palestine protest camp also contributed to the heated mood in the scene, it was said.
Technical police units with clearing vehicles, water cannons, a police helicopter and light poles to illuminate the streets are also on hand. The security forces are expecting aggressive demonstrators and attacks with bottle and stone throwing.
“The police must take tough action immediately”
The alliance of demonstration organizers, which also includes left-wing groups of migrants, had announced that, among other things, they would demonstrate “in solidarity with the people of Gaza”. The alliance accused the police of deciding on their own initiative “what is covered by the constitutional right to freedom of expression and freedom of demonstration and what is directly prevented by force”.
Symbols of terrorist organizations as well as anti-Jewish slogans and slogans against Israel that reject the state’s right to exist are prohibited. This also includes the well-known sentence “From the river to the sea – Palestine will be free”, which refers to the territory of Israel. Public prosecutors are ready to quickly decide whether certain posters or chants are punishable. “The police must take tough action immediately if there are riots, acts of violence and hatred of Jews on our streets around May 1st,” Faeser told the RND.
Demonstrations involving left-wing autonomous groups are also expected in Hamburg. The main rally of the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB) on Labor Day will take place in Hanover this year. DGB boss Yasmin Fahimi said in the ZDF “Morgenmagazin” that the motto this time was “More wages, more free time, more security”. “That means we want to stand up for the tariff change,” emphasized Fahimi. There will also be collective bargaining for around twelve million employees this year. “But the point is that we also talk about good working conditions.”