Violent Police Crackdown on Peaceful Berlin Protest Against Violence Against Women
A peaceful demonstration in Berlin marking International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women was disrupted and ultimately turned violent after police intervened using pepper spray, kettling tactics and pushing participants, including a clearly marked press medic.
Concerns Rise Over Police Brutality Targeting Anti-Violence Protest
A witness told Novara Media he was brutally beaten unconscious as another demonstrator claimed police refused medical attention.
Reports suggest a heavy police presence was anticipated early on. Dozens of police vans swarmed the gathering in Kreuzberg, a district known for its large ethnic minority population, as the event began. Tension quickly escalated, marred by police aggression. One video seen by Novara Media displays a demonstrator being violently choked by police.
Novara Media’s reporter witnessed police employing kettling techniques, trapping demonstrators while deploying pepper spray.
One demonstrator, who wished to remain anonymous, narrated how he was beaten while filming on his phone. He states police assaulted him, dragging him into a police car and assaulting him further while claiming to be “doing nothing.” Friends reported that he suffered a fractured nose due to the beating.
Another demonstrator shared her experience accompanying a friend to the hospital, recounting her knee fractured during a violent confrontation with police.
The press office contested the allegations of medical neglect, stating that the woman “was cared for throughout by emergency personnel and a police paramedic” and that she “vehemently refused [the] first aid requested by the police.” One anonymous doctor who was present at the incident refuted this statement, reporting that the woman appeared unconscious and had made no such refusal.
Demonstrators Uninjured But Traumatized
“It almost felt like sexual violence,” shared protester Eleanor Brooks, who, despite being unhurt, expressed her fear and concern about the situation. “The fact that this protest was about violence against women… the irony is wearing thin here in Germany”, she added.
Another witness, prize-winning German-Iranian photojournalist Shirin Abedi, recalled the chaotic scene: “It was very turbulent, they pushed everyone who was coming to help the people who fell to the ground”. Abedi, wearing her fluorescent green press jacket, herself was pushed forcefully by the police, leading her to wear a helmet at future protests, fearing for her safety.
“Germany is always condemning Iran, but the first time I was ever injured by police it was in Berlin,” she added.
The intersectional rally was organized by the Alliance of International Feminists, a coalition of feminist groups connected to pro-Palestine activism. While speeches focused on feminism and anti-violence against women, anecdotal evidence suggests the demonstration’s focus on Palestine was a trigger for the heightened police response. There were speculations that the chant “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” contributed to ramping up tensions, though the chant itself is often used associated with agitating accusations of antisemitic messaging, despite the chant.</
Pro-Palestinian demonstrations have faced increasingly heavy policing in Germany for years. Since 2022, Nakba Day demonstrations have been banned, cited as a security concern, prompting Amnesty International also expressed "serious doubts" about the legality of such bans.
Rising Calls for Justice & Accountability
In the aftermath of the demonstration, news emerged of 17 men and 12 women arrested due to an array of offenses, including “particularly serious breach of the peace” and physical assault on law enforcement.
How can individuals and communities demand accountability from law enforcement agencies for acts of violence?
## Interview for Novara Media: Berlin Protest
**Host**: Welcome back to Novara Media. We’re joined today by Eleanor Brooks, a demonstrator who witnessed the shocking violence unleashed by Berlin police on protestors marking International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. Eleanor, thank you for joining us.
**Eleanor**: Thank you for having me. It’s important people hear what happened.
**Host**: Can you describe the atmosphere at the beginning of the protest?
**Eleanor**: It was a powerful demonstration. We were all there to stand against violence against women, many of us survivors ourselves. The energy was incredibly strong and hopeful. We were calling for real change.
**Host**: How did the situation escalate?
**Eleanor**: It went from peaceful to terrifying very quickly. Police swarmed the area, dozens of vans. Their presence felt incredibly intimidating.
**Host**: You mentioned the use of violent tactics by police. Can you elaborate on that?
**Eleanor**: We were kettled, trapped by police lines, and pepper sprayed without warning. It was chaotic. People were scared, injured. I saw one demonstrator choked by an officer.
**Host**: There were reports of police refusing medical attention to injured protestors.
**Eleanor**: Yes, a friend of mine witnessed a woman with a fractured knee after a violent confrontation with police. She needed medical help, but it was initially refused.
**Host**: What were the reactions of the protestors to this police brutality?
**Eleanor**: It was traumatic. Even those who weren’t physically injured, like myself, felt shaken. The experience felt violating. It felt like an attack on our right to protest, and it felt deeply ironic given the reason for our demonstration.
**Host**: What message do you have for our viewers about what happened in Berlin?
**Eleanor**: This isn’t just about one protest, it’s about the systemic violence that many marginalized groups face, including women and people of color. We need to call it out and demand accountability. We won’t be silenced.
**Host**: Eleanor, thank you for sharing your powerful testimony with us today.
