German anti-Nazi protester gets 2 years

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DRESDEN, Germany, Jan. 20 (UPI) -- Hundreds of protesters rallied in Dresden, Germany, after a judge sentenced an anti-Nazi demonstrator to two years in jail for rioting.

The judge sentenced a 36-year-old man identified only as Tim H. to 22 months in jail for aggravated assault and rioting Wednesday, The Local.de reported Saturday.

The Sachische Zeitiung newspaper said the man, who had no previous criminal record, used a megaphone to encourage fellow demonstrators to break past a police barrier during a February 2011 rally against neo-Nazis.

The judge ruled that because four policemen were injured as a result, Tim H. is responsible because he provoked the attacks.

Sven Richwin, Tim H.'s lawyer, said he plans to appeal the ruling because only the words "go forward, go forward" can be heard on a police video of the incident, no calls for violence.

The lawyer said he doesn't even believe his client can be seen on the police video and witnesses -- including some police -- could not identify Tim H. as the person with the megaphone.