German Police Shield Neo-Nazis From Counterdemonstrators
Hundreds of demonstrators rallied against a neo-Nazi march Saturday in this western industrial city. A strong police presence kept the sides apart.
At one point, about 250 leftist demonstrators tried unsuccessfully to break through the police line separating the groups. About 2,000 police officers had been deployed to prevent violence between the 300 neo-Nazis and about 1,500 people demonstrating against them.
As the protest ended, two neo-Nazis were attacked at a train station by 30 counterdemonstrators.
Despite the city’s objection, a court had allowed the neo-Nazis to march--but with restrictions including bans on beating drums, marching in organized rows and the skinheads’ trademark jackboots and bomber jackets.
A common right-wing slogan, “The national resistance is marching here,” also was declared off-limits by the Muenster court.
A neo-Nazi demonstration by 600 skinheads in Dortmund in October drew 20,000 counterdemonstrators.
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