Even in 1890, before Bismarck’s Anti-Socialist Law expired at midnight on September 30, police regularly shut down socialist rallies, even peaceful gatherings like the one shown here. Police were obliged to send an observer to every legally held meeting. It was not difficult for that observer, if so inclined, to interpret various anti-monarchist statements or explanations of Marxist doctrines as “likely to incite class hatred,” which led in turn to the outcome depicted below.