“Corona walk” in Innsbruck: Over 100 advertisements for illegal demos

By Thomas Hörmann

Innsbruck –  The y prayed “Hail, Maria”, sang “Zu Mantua in Gangs” and “Dem Land Tirol die Treue”:  The  demonstration, which shouldn’t have taken place by order of the police, took place on Saturday afternoon in the Innsbrucker Downtown an unusual sight. Despite the ban, at least 700 demonstrators had gathered between Annasäule and Landhausplatz by 2 p.m.  The  rally was largely peaceful. Only at the end did the riot break out, with five demonstrators arrested.

In Innsbruck haben am Samstagnachmittag Hunderte Tirolerinnen und Tiroler bei einer Demonstration teilgenommen. Sie protestierten gegen die von der Regierung angeordneten CoV-Maßnahmen, obwohl Versammlungen verboten worden waren.

© zeitungsfoto.at/Liebl Daniel

As reported, the originally planned large-scale demonstration under the motto “Peace, Freedom, Sovereignty, Government Measures” was already banned by the police on Wednesday.  The n an organizer tried through the back door and announced an Andreas Hofer memorial service with a procession. Also without success – the city magistrate refused his blessing.

📽️ Video | Hundreds of participants in the demo despite the ban

230 police officers on duty

 The  participants were not deterred, however. Not even from the large police presence with around 230 officers.  The  police leadership not only renounced violent measures, but enabled a demonstration march to the Wilten basilica and back to Landhausplatz.  The  participants split up into two blocks, chose different routes and responded with “Thank you, police!” Chants.  The  “prayer leader”, who took over the leadership of the procession with a picture of Jesus in his arms, repeatedly asked the demonstrators to obey the police’s instructions, to wear masks and to keep their distance. On the way back to the city center the mood changed, instead of “To Mantua in gangs” the participants sang “Kurz muss go away”.

Hunderte Personen versammelten sich um 15 Uhr Uhr bei Frühlingswetter mit Sonne trotz Versammlungsverboten in der Innsbrucker Maria  The resienstraße. Die Menschen standen und gingen meist mit vorgeschriebenem Abstand.

© zeitungsfoto.at/Liebl Daniel

Around 4.30 p.m., the approximately 300 remaining demonstrators and the police escort arrived at Landhausplatz.  The re it came to a scandal. Because a young man refused to wear the mask, the police overcame him and arrested him. A protester wanted to help the boy and landed roughly on the ground. When her 82-year-old father tried to intervene, he was also pulled to the ground, handcuffed and taken away. Angry protests followed. Until 6 p.m. the crowd dispersed without further incident.

A total of 104 participants, including the prayer leader and spokesman for the rally, were reported: 46 for disregarding the Covid regulations, 54 for administrative offenses, four for resisting state power. In addition, “five people were temporarily arrested,” confirms police lawyer Florian Greil.