Statement on state repression and police violence against anti-militarist protests during the days of action against Rheinmetall, 9–12 July 2026. In particular, regarding the demonstration ‘Wedding without an arms factory – Together against war’ (Berlin, 11 July 2026)
Obstacles and police violence on Thursday, 9 July 2026
Protests had already taken place on Thursday: in the early hours of the morning, around 50 people blocked the entrance to the Rheinmetall factory. Dozens more blocked the access roads to the factory in the surrounding area. The nationwide action orchestra ‘Lebenslaute’ also took part in the blockade of the factory gates.
These acts of civil disobedience were violently broken up by the police – some of whom were in civilian outfits. At least four people had to be taken to hospital.
Obstacles ahead of the demonstration on Saturday, 11 July 2026
Just two days before the demonstration, the police prohibited the march from passing the Rheinmetall factory on Scheringstraße and closed off the entire street. The factory itself is highly symbolic, and the planned rally in front of it would have been important for our protest.
We view this change to the demonstration route, which was announced at such short notice, as a tactic by the police to make it more difficult to take legal action against the decision. We regard the ban as a flagrant infringement of the freedom of assembly.
Obstacles, arrests and police violence during the demonstration on 11 July 2026
Despite the demonstration being loud but peaceful, the police repeatedly resorted to violence and threats and obstructed the march.
Right from the start of the gathering at Gesundbrunnen station, the police prevented the demonstration from beginning for a considerable period of time. This was justified on the grounds of prohibited symbols and some covering their faces. Covering one’s face at public gatherings is generally permitted in the State of Berlin. Yet, at this demonstration the police explicitly prohibited this and also instructed us to read out the lengthy formal conditions four times, which further delayed the start of the demonstration significantly.
Furthermore, the police stopped the march on several occasions. In addition to pyrotechnics and a few participants wearing face covers – which they removed upon request – the police disliked attempts to tie banners together and umbrellas to protect against right-wing streamers. They detained us for a full hour – in the blazing sun at around 30 degrees and with no food or beverages available nearby. As a result, many felt compelled to leave the demonstration. This repressive measure significantly reduced the number of participants.
Citing flimsy excuses that we were unable to control the protesters, the police banned us from taking our planned route and wanted to bring the demonstration to an end as early as the first third of the way, at Scheringstraße. After protracted negotiations, we were given a new route and allowed to continue the demonstration.
Back at Gesundbrunnen, there were arrests and police violence, and we decided to end the demonstration on Pankstraße for safety reasons. At the final rally there, the police arrested several more people.
The arrests and police violence were documented by our documentation team, the Arrest Documentation Unit (ADU), which accompanied the demonstration. The documentation includes eyewitness accounts, witness statements and testimonies from those affected, as well as video and photographic evidence.
The following incidents were documented:
- 15–17 arrests, including minors:
- one 14-year-old
- one 17-year-old
- two 18-year-olds
- In addition, the following cases were documented:
- one person suffering a panic attack
- one person with a head injury caused by a police officer’s helmet
- Several people sustained injuries and had to be treated in hospital.
- Furthermore, our security staff was prevented from carrying out their duties by the police. One was injured after being struck hard on the head.
- The police did not provide any reasons for the arrests.
Our take and our demands
Protests such as demonstrations or civil disobedience are legitimate and legal forms of free expression and thus form the cornerstones of a democratic society. We regard the police’s attempts to suppress and intimidate our protests as a sign of internal warfare, which goes hand in hand with the state’s preparations for war. In this way, the Berlin Senate and the Federal Government are demonstrating how the militarisation of society does not protect our freedom, democracy and security, but rather how the authoritarian restructuring of the state continues to gather pace.
We demand an immediate end to repression and police violence against anti-militarist and anti-arms demonstrations, rallies or acts of civil disobedience.
We demand that we be allowed to choose our own demonstration routes and rally venues without restrictions, as enshrined in the right of assembly. It must remain permissible to hold our protests in front of the Rheinmetall factory in Wedding, i.e. on the public roads surrounding the factory.
We demand that we be allowed to carry out our protests to the end without disruption or threats of repression.
We demand that the health of our protesters is not endangered either by being made to stand for long periods in the heat or by physical or psychological violence at the hands of the police.
We stay united and continue the struggle!
We stand in solidarity with everyone who has been affected by police violence.
You are not alone!
Together, we’ll stay strong for Wedding and the whole world without arms production! Money for the hood, not weapons for war!
In cooperation with Arrest Documentation Unit