Thousands gather in Cottbus to call for an end to immigration

The alliance Zukunft Heimat had called for a protest. According to information from Anne Haberstroh, board member of Zukunft Heimat, some 1500 to 2000 people demonstrated against asylum seekers, but no official figures were released.

The city decided that they would not take in any new “refugees” for the time being, and the interior minister of Brandenburg issued a warning to Berlin: federal politicians should think through “family reunification”.

From the point of view of the speakers, the federal government should take heed. “It is a shame that we have to be here again,” said Birgit Bessin, who represents the AfD in the Brandenburg state parliament. She listed the numerous incidents in which Syrian attacks on Germans have occurred.

In addition to the two recent attacks in Cottbus – on Friday a week ago three Syrian youths attacked a married couple with a knife and on Wednesday, a 15-year-old Syrian injured a 16-year-old German – Bessin pointed out several other attacks.

On 29 December 2017 Syrians attacked a German with fireworks, on October 23, 2017 Syrians and Germans skirmished at the Stadthallenvorplatz Cottbus, Bessin noted. She also reminded the protesters of the murder of the 82-year-old retiree in Cottbus by a Syrian refugee on 8 December 2016.

The AfD politician said these attacks were clearly not isolated cases. She added: “Every single case is one too many” to loud applause from the audience.

Christoph Berndt from the Zukunft Heimat alliance called in his speech on the mayor of Cottbus, Holger Kelch, to set up an account for the 16-year-old German, who was injured on January 17, to pay for any necessary cosmetic surgical treatments. For this purpose, donations were also collected during the demonstration. In addition, Berndt said, a contact group for those victims of violence by refugees has to be set up.

Refugees are not an enrichment, but a threat speakers said. They accused politicians of abandoning their people.

From the audience were continuous shouts of “We are the people” and “Merkel must go!” In addition, a report on the incidents in Cottbus on state television was heavily criticized. This was government propaganda from the editorial board and was not a truthful account. The audience acknowledged these statements shouting “Volksverräter”.

According to RUNDSCHAU information, RBB editors who wanted to report on the demonstration were threatened and insulted and hindered in their work.

After one and a half hours, the demonstration ended. The police said that after the meeting had ended at around 3 pm, two incidents were reported.

A 44-year-old man pushed a journalist standing on a bench, who was taking pictures. The woman remained unhurt. Almost at the same time a 25-year-old man bumped into a social worker. As a result, his smartphone fell to the ground and was damaged.

Both suspects were apprehended. Investigations were initiated for property damage and attempted assault. No further disturbances or offenses were reported to the police.