20.11.18 (wednesday) - berlin, germany - Berlin police fire water cannons at coronavirus protesters db1118 ----- Germany: Police use water cannons on anti-lockdown protesters outside Bundestag Nov 18, 2020 Ruptly https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHXbAWSlPGc ----- Berlin police fire water cannons at coronavirus protesters Nov 18, 2020 The Telegraph Police used water cannon to break up protests by coronavirus sceptics in Berlin on Wednesday. Thousands of demonstrators gathered at the city’s Brandenburg Gate to protest against a new law on measures to contain the pandemic. The protest was allowed to go ahead at first but police ordered demonstrators to disperse after many in the crowed ignored social distancing rules and refused to wear facemasks. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f72IDMqd5HE ----- WATCH: German Police Fire Water Cannons at Virus Protesters in Berlin Nov 18, 2020 Bloomberg Markets and Finance Nov.18 -- German police used water cannons and pepper spray Wednesday to disperse people protesting coronavirus restrictions in Berlin's government district, after crowds ignored calls to wear masks and keep their distance from one another in line with pandemic regulations. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ox8RvfgtC8s ----- Police fire water cannon to disperse Berlin anti-shutdown protest | AFP Nov 18, 2020 AFP News Agency German police fire water cannon to disperse thousands of unmasked protesters who had massed in central Berlin to demonstrate against government measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhH5q5JjQKQ ----- Police fire water cannon to clear Berlin shutdown protest | AFP Nov 18, 2020 AFP News Agency German police fires water cannon to disperse thousands of unmasked protesters who had massed in central Berlin to demonstrate against government measures to curb the spread of coronavirus. After repeated warnings for the crowd to put on face coverings went unheeded, police said they would take action to clear the protest. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfE6NBvySnk ----- German Police Use Water Cannon to Disperse Protesters Over Virus Rules Nov 18, 2020 Bloomberg Quicktake: Now Berlin (AP) -- German police fired water cannons Wednesday at demonstrators protesting coronavirus restrictions in Berlin's government district, after crowds ignored calls to wear masks and keep their distance from one another in line with pandemic regulations. As the cannons soaked protesters outside the landmark Brandenburg Gate, police in riot gear moved through the crowd carrying away some participants. Some demonstrators threw fireworks and flares in response as police helicopters hovered overhead. The protests came as German lawmakers debated on a bill providing legal underpinning for the government to issue social distancing rules, require masks in public and close stores and other venues to slow the spread of the virus. While such measures are supported by most people in Germany, a vocal minority has staged regular rallies around the country arguing that the restrictions are unconstitutional. The measures are expected to pass both the lower and then upper house of parliament and be quickly signed by Germany’s president. The health minister, Jens Spahn, defended the measures, telling lawmakers that authorities “struggle every day in trying to strike the balance” between restrictions and safeguarding democratic freedoms. But he insisted that Germany had found the right path, noting that it has fared much better than many of its European neighbors. “Where would you rather be than in Germany,” he told lawmakers from the far-right Alternative for Germany party who criticized the lockdown measures. Overall, the country has seen 833,000 coronavirus cases and more than 13,000 virus-confirmed deaths in the pandemic, a death toll one-fourth that of Britain’s. Spahn also praised the efforts of German pharmaceutical company BioNTech, which together with Pfizer is leading the race to develop a vaccine for COVID-19, and denied that there would be compulsory inoculation. German authorities said Tuesday that they had banned a series of protests directly outside the parliament building due to security concerns, and fencing was put up around a wide area, including the Bundestag and nearby parliamentary offices, the federal chancellery and the presidential residence and offices. Outside the metal cordons, protesters gathered early Wednesday by the Brandenburg Gate, and on streets and bridges. The demonstrators came from all walks of life, ranging from the far-left to the far-right, while also including families, students and others. “We want our lives back,” read one sign carried by protesters. Another said “Put banks under surveillance, not citizens.” One demonstrator held a flag with a picture of outgoing U.S. President Donald Trump and an image invoking the right-wing conspiracy theory “QAnon,” while another had a placard showing top German virologist Christian