Thousands take to the streets across Germany, demanding an end to pandemic measures.
On Monday evening, at 7 pm sharp, protesters gathered in Cottbus, a university city southeast of Berlin, marking yet another weekly rally against coronavirus protection measures. The protests have grown in size amid rising Omicron cases and increasing frustration over the looming introduction of a vaccine mandate. Nationwide, more than 2,000 rallies took place, drawing tens of thousands of participants.
The protest in Cottbus followed a familiar pattern: As the demonstration began, police declared it illegal due to the lack of masks and social distancing, but many protesters dispersed into “Spaziergänge”—unsanctioned walks in different directions to evade the authorities. The protesters, dressed warmly in padded coats and hats, casually strolled through the city, some with smiles, while others shouted defiant slogans like “Frieden, Freiheit, keine Diktatur!” (Peace, freedom, no dictatorship) and “Widerstand!” (Resistance).
Echoing chants from East Germany’s 1989 revolution, some protesters yelled, “Wir sind das Volk!” (We are the people). The crowd was mostly composed of individuals frustrated with restrictions, and although some admitted to being unvaccinated, most kept their identities hidden.
