Paint bag attack in Vechta: Chaos at the reservist roll call!

Paint bag attack in Vechta: Chaos at the reservist roll call!

An explosive event for some took place in Vechta on June 15, 2025. At a reservist roll call with around 140 veterans and 70 spectators, there were tumultuous scenes when two men from the environment of a parallel peace rally attacked a reservist with a bag of paint. According to regionalheute.de, the attackers have now been identified and are facing administrative offense proceedings. This was apparently part of the frightening overall picture that day, as the police also had to take further measures to bring the situation under control.

Around 4:08 p.m., around 25 people tried to break through a police barrier. The police reaction was decisive: pepper spray was used to defuse the situation. As a result, a total of 15 people were temporarily arrested and banned from meeting. Fortunately, there were no injuries, which defused the situation somewhat.

Parallel events under pressure

While the reservist roll call was taking place, there was also a rally with peaceful protests for peace. This was organized by the initiative “Never again war – put down the weapons” and Peace Coordination Berlin. On June 14, the day before, they had already protested against the police's alleged interference with their freedom of assembly. For this purpose, the participants were driven away from the Brandenburg Gate when they found space in a new area behind Ebertstrasse. The situation in Berlin was tense, as they were supported by more than 80 different groups. In addition, a large biker demonstration with 500 to 700 machines was announced, which further increased the pressure on the police (nie-wieder-krieg.org).

According to reports, the Berlin Assembly Authority has issued blanket bans on pro-Palestinian demonstrations, which puts the guiding principle of the right to peaceful protest in a questionable light. This development is part of a worrying trend in many countries that is causing problems for the right to peaceful protest, and not just in Germany. The report by liberties.eu shows that many governments are increasingly trying to regulate or suppress protests.

A social call

These recent developments make it clearer than ever how important the right to peaceful protest is for our democracy. It not only serves to express oneself on important issues, but also to raise a voice against systematic restrictions. In Germany, not only pro-Palestinian activists but also environmental activists were affected by attacks and repression, which is leading the overall societal debate about fundamental rights into a critical phase.

In view of all of these events, a clarifying sign is needed more than ever: political responsibility on the part of the authorities and the city is required to respect and protect the right to assembly. The protesters in Berlin can only hope that their voices are not silenced and that society, as well as political decision-makers, takes their concerns seriously and recognizes the validity of their demands in a democratic society.