Police operation in Gera: Security at Multitude guaranteed by meetings

meetings in Gera: Polician commitment and social reactions

gera (ots)

In the city of Gera, on August 16, 2024 there was a large number of citizens' meetings that not only mobilized the local police, but also moved the minds in the city. The use of the law enforcement officers was necessary to ensure both security during the meetings and to protect the right to freedom of assembly.

number of meetings and their topics

A total of four meetings were registered that had different messages and motivations:

• Family festival of a political party: here gathered in front of the cultural and congress center between 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. However, this event was overshadowed by severe allegations, since three investigations were initiated against participants due to the violation of §86a StGB (use of unconstitutional symbols). There was also coercion and attempted bodily harm to a journalist.
• Protest against the fascist Höcke: A smaller meeting in the area of the museum square of 7 people, which took place from 3:00 p.m. to 6:45 p.m., was peaceful.
• Heart instead of agitation: This event, in which 11 people gathered from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., was also carried out without incidents.
• No Bucks on Höcke 2.0: From 3:30 p.m. to 6:20 p.m., around 120 people on the bike path above Breitscheidstraße moved through the streets, and this meeting was also trouble -free.

police presence and support

The Gera police were on site with their own forces due to the various events. In order to cope with the situation and being prepared for possible disorders, the local police received support from further units from Thuringia. This measure underlined the importance of public security and order during such assemblies.

social relevance of protests

Today's events clearly show how important the topic of freedom of assembly is in society. The high number of participants at the political event and the subsequent protests illustrate the division and the different views within the population. While some citizens followed the event format of the political party, others take the opportunity to refer to clear positions against these views.

The reactions to what is happening underline the social dialogue on topics such as nationalism and political extremisms, which has increasingly gained in Germany in recent years. The police will continue to be justified in the future to find their balance between the protection of freedom of assembly on the one hand and the protection of public security on the other.