was the slogan of a rally in berlin yesterday, where about 15.000 people gathered to protest against the policy to restrict freedom of information and the right of privacy in the name of “security”. Mainly the law, which orders providers of communication services to file any data, who is communicating with whom, which will be used in some month, was criticized.
The rally was kind of extraordinary, an alliance between liberal groups, parties and leftist organizations was formed. And it seemed, both found a way of common articulation, those on an abstract understanding of civil rights and freedoms, the others confronted with repression due to their political activities. Evrybody seemed to be content, as there hasn’t been any protest of more than a few hundred people in teh last, maybe 20 years, whereas critics had to observe new laws on security and surveillance constantly, even before 9/11.
But, the alliance did not stand its crucial test. One leftist block was attacked by police hard, several dozen were injured by pepper spray and sticks, several times. This situation led to the consequence, that about half of the protesters decided to leave the demonstration, as it was not possible to go on without risking more injured. It’s not the first time, I saw police violence, not even the hardest, but probably the most clearest example, how police decided to use violence for the goal to split protest. And definitely it worked. All those, who could be sure, not to be goal of the attacks just passed by to finish the rally just like nothing happened. Many even complained the “black block” destroyed the image of the peaceful protest, Those who abstractly criticized the logic to construct a concept of an enemy, easily used it to stay on the side of the good citizen. who has not to hide anything, does not have to fear, not even the police.