Activists Denied Entry to France

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On the evening of March 31, a group of five people trying to drive to the Strasbourg camp were held for about 5 hours by German police and refused entry to France.

 


On the evening of March 31, a group of five people trying to drive to the Strasbourg camp were held for about 5 hours by German police and refused entry to France. 5 kilometers from the border, they were pulled over and inspected.  They police for backup, who approached the car with their hands on their weapons.  The group was taken to an inspection centre at Altenheim.  There the group was forced to submit to a grueling four-hour long inspection.  After an unsuccessful search by the officers looking for forbidden or "dangerous" objects and multiple individual interrogation sessions, the activists were forbidden to enter France, Switzerland, and Luxembourg, a ban that runs until April 5.  The reason behind this suspicion: possible participation in “violent” demonstrations.  If they attempt again, they can be arrested and be held until April 5..  
One of the activists was quoted afterwards, “We advise all activists who are already at the camp or in France not to return to Germany before the end of NATO Summit.  The people who were already in the camp and travelled back to Germany were denied the ability to come back to France.  Take part in the activities in France!  Those who want to travel to Strasbourg should dress in an unsuspicious manner and not take objects which can in any way be deemed dangerous.  Above all, the police are looking for objects that could be used to hide ones identity.”
The group is trying  at the moment legally to challenge the travel ban.  
With this in mind:   Take care on the way to Strasbourg!