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There will be traffic restrictions and an increased police presence in Johannesberg on Saturday during the founding party conference of the AfD youth organization in Hesse and a counter-demonstration.
Fulda – From 11 a.m The founding meeting of the Hesse regional association of the AfD youth organization “Generation Germany” will take place in the community center in Fulda-Johannesberg. At the same time, the association “Fulda stands up against” a counter-demonstration with a democracy festival was announced around the community center.
Four-digit number of participants expected for demo against AfD in Fulda
The assembly authority of the city of Fulda and the East Hesse police headquarters have now issued a joint press release regarding the planning of the operational situation and restrictions for residents and road users in Johannesberg. According to the statement, the police are currently expecting up to a four-digit number of counter-demonstrators. Accordingly, significant traffic restrictions can be expected in and around Johannesberg on Saturday.
The directly affected residents on Von-Mengersen-Straße as well as the mayors of Johannesberg and the surrounding towns have already been informed. The thoroughfare through Johannesberg will therefore be closed to vehicle traffic from Friday (March 27th) at 7 p.m. in the area between Pioneerstrasse and Wehrstrasse. Traffic from and towards Zirkenbach, Zell and Istergiesel will be rerouted via the Westring and Gieseler Straße (L3079). The closures are expected to be lifted on Saturday evening at 7 p.m.
According to the city of Fulda, the closures are covered by the fundamental right to freedom of assembly. Meeting places in public areas could therefore be freely chosen, but restrictions on private transport would have to be accepted. Nevertheless, the city and police tried to keep these restrictions as low as possible, according to the statement. Residents affected by the closure could repark their vehicles via Lukasstrasse until Saturday, 6 a.m., in consultation with the emergency services on site. After that, access or exit to the properties on this section of Von-Mengersen-Strasse, Tonkaute and Am Kies Street will no longer be possible until the end of the protest event.
Police are planning to have an “appropriate number” of emergency services in Johannesberg
According to the city of Fulda, bus traffic is not affected by the closure of the through town, as the “ Bürgerhaus Johannesberg ” stop is not served on Saturdays anyway. All sporting events in the sports hall and the Johannesberg sports center could also take place as planned. Access for emergency services is also guaranteed.
According to the statement, the police are currently in the final planning of the operational situation and the security concept. Findings from comparable operational situations are incorporated here. The police will do everything they can to ensure a safe and peaceful gathering. For this purpose, an “appropriate number of forces will be on site”. There is no information regarding the exact number of emergency services for tactical reasons.
The AfD regional association Hesse has signed a rental agreement with the city of Fulda for the Johannesberg community center for the founding event. The party – like other parties – is entitled to this. Any protest events are not a reason to refuse the use of a community center.
“The Fulda district association is very successful and has a large number of members,” says Pierre Lamely, member of the Bundestag and AfD district chairman in Fulda, explaining the choice of Fulda as the location for the founding meeting. They couldn't find a suitable public venue directly in Fulda, so Johannesberg was chosen. They didn't want to rely on a private landlord because they could terminate the rental agreement at short notice.
