For a long time it was unclear whether the left-wing autonomous scene was allowed to demonstrate on “Day X” in Leipzig. The urgent application against a corresponding ban has now been rejected – according to the court, the mobilization was also aimed at a violent scene.
The “Day X” demo planned for tomorrow after the left-wing extremism verdict against the student Lina E. remains prohibited. In the late afternoon, the administrative court in Leipzig rejected an urgent application against the ban by the city as the assembly authority. A court spokesman said it was highly likely that the meeting would not go peacefully. In this respect, the city’s risk forecast proves to be correct.
From the point of view of the administrative court, it must be taken into account in particular that the mobilization on the Internet, including the call for demonstrations, was also directed at an autonomous left-wing extremist scene prepared to use violence. Even if calls for violence have been distanced in the meantime and a peaceful demonstration was recently called for, there is still a fear that acts of violence would be committed from the registered assembly.
In addition, the registered number of participants of 400 to 500 does not seem remotely realistic. According to the administrative court, a much higher number of participants is to be expected. Radical left circles had long been mobilized nationwide and beyond for the demo with the motto “United we stand – despite everything, defend autonomous anti-fascism!”.
An appeal to the Saxon Higher Administrative Court in Bautzen is possible against the decision of the administrative court.
What is “Day X”?
The “Day X” is a reaction to the conviction of the student Lina E. and the three co-defendants for assaults on alleged or actual neo-Nazis. The quartet was sentenced to several years in prison by the Dresden Higher Regional Court on Wednesday for assault and membership or support of a criminal organization. Lina E., who had been in custody for two and a half years, was provisionally released after the verdict was pronounced.
As of 6 p.m. today, a so-called controlled area will apply in Leipzig, which will cover large parts of the city in the east, south and west of Leipzig. There, the police can stop people and check their identity for no particular reason. The police had announced that arrival traffic on the streets and at the main train station should also be controlled.
Leipzig’s city manager Jung called for peacefulness. In the city of the Peaceful Revolution of 1989, violence taken to the streets is completely unacceptable. “I appeal to everyone not to join the calls and to unequivocally distance themselves from any form of violence.”
There was a solidarity demo for Lina E. on Wednesday evening. It was stopped right at the beginning due to violations of conditions and the clearly excessive number of participants. The situation then briefly escalated. Stones and firecrackers were thrown at police officers.
criticism of the police
Yesterday evening, the left-wing member of the state parliament, Juliane Nagel, was arrested by the police for registering a youth demonstration on Children’s Day. Video images of the police action triggered heavy criticism. In the social networks, the police, the state interior ministry and the city of Leipzig are accused of escalating the situation around “Day X”. A police spokesman pointed out that numerous anti-police slogans had been shouted at the youth demonstration.
According to the police, Nagel met today with the Leipzig police chief René Demmler and the Saxon interior minister Armin Schuster (CDU). In doing so, the police operation on Thursday and the meeting were objectively and critically dealt with. Those involved agreed that before “Day X” there was uncertainty and fears of riots and that de-escalation had to be the order of the day. Nagel also called for “de-escalation on all sides”.
In connection with the “Day X” ban, Friday evening in Leipzig also became the focus of attention. In the Connewitz district, a “mass corner” was called for in the evening. Various antifa and anarchy accounts promoted “taking the streets”. Solidarity cannot be banned, the appeals say.
In addition to “Day X”, there are a number of other major events in Leipzig this weekend. It’s a city festival, Herbert Grönemeyer is giving a concert in front of tens of thousands of visitors, and on Saturday Lok Leipzig and Chemnitzer FC are playing for the Saxony Cup. A cancellation of this football game was considered, but then discarded.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
