The administrative court of Berlin ruled on 11th of December 2012 that the organisers of the Hanfparade were correct in their plans for the demonstration in 2011 and declared the behaviour of the Government Agency for assembly as illegal. In 2011 the agency forbid most parts of the final and closing part of the Hanfparade 2011 at Brandenburger Gate and said it was commercial, which the court now disproved. The Hanfparade is Germany’s traditional rally for the legalisation of Cannabis as a resource, medicine and for recreational use and starts every year in early August.

It was a shock for most visitors to the Hanfparade to see that the police forced the demonstration vehicles out of the rally next to the final end point. Only moments later a second shock followed when they arrived at the almost empty place, with only the stage of the Hanfparade, which should have been accompanied by various stands all about hemp.

Organised areas and stands, prepared with much voluntary work over many months, like the children’s corner, the area for industrial uses, the forum for cannabis based medicines, the market of possibilities and the speakers corner, were all forbidden. The main event of the Hanfparade was only a shadow of itself.
 
Until the morning hours of the day of the Hanfparade the organisers tried to appeal against the ban at the finishing and assembly point. The Governmental Agency blocked any communication efforts and sat on their power. With the help of two groups of one hundred policemen, the Government pushed the Hanfparade away. Even the policemen suffered under the power of their bosses. So we only had two toilets for 3000 people. Also the heat, at more than 30 degree in the shade, brought the policemen into the row for the single water tap we had.
 
The decision is not yet available in a text form but the organisers now have two points: “Firstly it brings some security for the organisation of Hanfparade 2013 and secondly we hope other political rallies can use our court decision for their rallies” said Martin Steldinger, one of the steering committee of Hanfparade. The decision should bring clear borders to the behaviour of the Agency for assemblies.

The complaint was supported by more than one dozen other rally organisers, persons engaged in the cultural sector, politicians and people from the Cannabis scene. They all complained about the arrogant manner in which the Government Agency for assemblies had acted.

More information (German only, use Google translate): Homepage of Hanfparade

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