Counter-protest against the “March for Life” in Berlin and Cologne

At the “March for Life” in Berlin and Cologne, Christian fundamentalists once again protested against abortion together with AfD politicians. Activists disrupted the march with banners and slogans, and the police sometimes took violent action against counter-demonstrators. Medical staff were arrested in Berlin.

The so-called “March for Life” takes place every September. This is supported by various movements that speak out against abortion and the right to self-determination of women and LGBTI+ people. It took place again on Saturday at the end of this week, simultaneously in Berlin and Cologne.

Several AfD MPs were seen at the march in Berlin again this year, including Martin Hohmann, Julian Adrat and Martin Kohler. Hubert Hüppe (CDU), Sylvia Pantel, the publicist Birgit Kelle and Jor-El Godsey, the president of “Heartbeat International” are said to have been among the participants.

Since 2008, the Federal Association for the Right to Life has been calling for the “March for Life”. He spoke of 4,200 participants in Berlin and 2,100 participants in Cologne at this year's march. In Cologne, the “March for Life” was registered for 3,000 people, so there were fewer participants than expected. The Berlin police only speak of around 2,000 participants in the Berlin “March for Life.”

Almost as many police officers, namely 1,150, accompanied the “March for Life” because the anti-abortion protest went unanswered in both Cologne and Berlin.

Women fight for the right to physical self-determination

Cologne activists protest directly in front of the march stage

Around 20 activists from the Cologne Solidarity Network mingled with the participants in the “March for Life” in Cologne wearing inconspicuous, appropriate clothing. Three of them each brought three large wooden crosses.

After a short time, the group gathered at the crosses and attached a banner to them that read “Our bodies, our choice – chase fundamentalists off the streets.” The activists then quickly stood in front of the stage and shouted combative slogans, including “My body, my choice, raise your voice”, “Women who fight are women who live” and “Resistance like never before – LGBT”.

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After just a few seconds, participants in the event tore down the banner. There was a brief scramble for the banner. The police arrived and snatched the banner from those involved. The activists were escorted from the square by the police with shoving and physical violence and were temporarily surrounded by emergency services.

Since they were right next to the event, they were able to continue shouting slogans. Women outside the group also expressed solidarity with them. After ten minutes, the police accompanied the group to the registered counter-demonstration.

Counter-protest in several places in Berlin

In Berlin, around 400 people gathered for a counter-rally at Washington Platz. At the same time, the Alliance for Sexual Self-Determination (BfSS) demonstrated with several hundred participants. According to the organizers, other counter-demonstrators also disrupted the MfL's proceedings along the route.

According to a press release from the counter-demonstrators, the police sometimes took violent action against the demonstrators and risked serious injuries in the process. For example, a medical person was arrested who wanted to show solidarity with a banner on a bridge on the Charité campus. The people were arrested at a height of several meters after police officers broke a window in the hospital.

One took place in the morning at Robert-Koch-Platz in Berlin, not far from the Charitérallyagainst the “March for Life”. The Berlin Workplace Campaign and the Berlin student collective called for the action.

The location was not chosen by chance: the march passes by and the Charité is only a few steps away. Since abortions are also carried out there, the activists fear hostility against employees. At the same time, they wanted to take a stand against attacks on the healthcare system.

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In their contributions, the speakers criticized the retrogressive image of women held by participants in the march and called it an attack on women's self-determination. They also criticized the current legal situation in Germany: abortions in this country are only exempt from punishment under certain conditions.

In her speech, Betriebskampf summarizes what this means: "Those affected find it difficult to find doctors who will carry out the procedure; they are exposed to bureaucratic and financial hurdles. Abortion is not taught in medical school, so the relevant doctors have to undergo additional training. The cost of abortions is between 350 and 650 euros, which is a huge sum, especially for pregnant women in precarious life situations. There are doctors who, despite these legal attacks, carry out abortions They often have to face harsh consequences.”

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