German police has confiscated on Friday 4,200 liters of beer at a neo-Nazi event taking place in Ostritz, a town in Saxony on the German-Polish border. The high administrative court (OVG) in Bautzen, east of Dresden forbade serving alcohol at the event because of an increased likelihood of violence.
However, organizers of the Schild und Schwert Festival (Shield and Sword Festival) that featured concerts with right-wing extremist bands, had insisted that past events had taken place peacefully even with the consumption of alcohol. When trying to serve beer despite the ban, the alcohol was confiscated as a consequence.
Even some of the about 500 to 600 concert goers, who tried to get their beer at the local supermarket, had to return without success. As a protest against right-wing extremism, residents of the community bought more than 100 cases of beer and stripped bare the beer stocks in the village.
A counterprotest, organized by the protest initiative Rechts rockt nicht (Right does not rock) which was planned to take place close to the concert venue was also barred by OVG citing safety risks. However, the residents of Ostritz organized a soccer tournament during the weekend to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the local soccer team to distract attention from the right-wing event.
"I am very impressed with how in such a small town ... the citizens stand up to make it clear that right-wing extremists are not wanted here," Michael Kretschmer, Saxony's state premier said in an interview cited by news agency dpa.
After the right-wing rock concert was over, the 4,200 liters of beer, which the police had confiscated on Friday, were handed back to the event manager.
