Rally against corona measures in Oerlikon

Opponents of the measures have called for a large demonstration in Zurich on Saturday. The motto seems a bit out of date: “For the final lifting of all Corona coercive measures!”. Many of these coercive measures have not been left since the easing on Thursday.

Would people still follow the call of the Urkantone action alliance to listen to singer-songwriter Linard Bardill or Bern city councilor Simone Machado on the Oerlikon market square? And would the event go smoothly after last week’s riots in downtown Zurich?

An on-site inspection shows that despite the measures being lifted and despite the nasty weather, well over a thousand demonstrators gathered on the market square at 2 p.m. The Freedom Trychler coach with the trailer for the bells is placed behind the stage. Merchandise is bought diligently at the stand of the Friends of the Constitution. A little boy with a poster around his neck “Bern you are not credible” is looking for his mother.

Meanwhile, the Trychlers have already positioned themselves. They form the loud front of the demonstration procession, which leads through Oerlikon via Schaffhauserstrasse.

The usual colorful mix of opponents of measures roams the streets, from the Free Left to “Rave for Freedom” to the purple-clad supporters of “Mass-voll”. A flag of the “Anti-Fascist Action” can also be seen. Right-wing extremists don’t seem to have hijacked the event this time, as they did in Bern at the end of January. In any case, they are not obvious.

The organizer’s security forces also ensure that nobody uninvited sits at the head of the demonstration. They hold back people who want to overtake the Trychler group.

The police are also present, with several vans and a lot of staff on site. The move is peaceful. Shortly before returning to the market square, the Trychlers stop and give it their all again. Then they turn off the bells and join the demonstrators in shouting: “Peace, freedom, the people are sovereign!”

After a good hour, the opponents of the measures then return to the market square. Various speeches and concerts are planned for the afternoon.

Violent rally a week ago

Demonstrations by opponents of the measures had already taken place in the city of Zurich last Saturday. In contrast to the rally in Oerlikon, the action was not approved. A group of right-wing extremists had also marched at the main train station. Left and left-wing extremist groups had already called for a counter-demonstration that was also unauthorized.

And the latter was well received. In the afternoon, groups of several hundred people gathered in front of the State Museum and on the station square. They held up banners with messages like “Zurich remains Nazi-free” or “Together against the right”. Right and left clashed briefly at the train station, and there were fights until the police intervened.

A group of counter-demonstrators left the main train station in the afternoon in the direction of Löwenplatz, some of them also to Bellevue. According to their own statements, the police stopped them again. Participants in the demonstration rioted on the Limmatquai. They were pushed back towards Central with a water cannon.

In a preliminary statement for the weekend, the city police spoke of three slightly injured police officers, several damaged police vehicles and spraying.

In total, the police arrested 41 people, including both right-wing and left-wing people. Three people were brought to the public prosecutor’s office for violence and threats, and 38 have since been released.

Is SP National Councilor Molina threatened with a fine?

The police are currently checking images on social media to see who can be proven to have committed a crime. Since the demonstration was unauthorized, participation is punishable by law. SP National Councilor Fabian Molina could also be affected by a fine, as the Tamedia newspapers reported. On Instagram he published a picture of himself at the demonstration and wrote: “Züri stable Nazi-free”.

The investigations of the police are not yet completed, it is said on request. The city judge would be responsible for punishing violations.