With ARTICLE 8 we take a close look at a shift in German society by witnessing one of the most direct tools of democratic discourse - demonstrations. As people seem to drift apart by the second and everybody seems to lose their trust in governments and institutions, voicing one's opinion becomes more integral than ever before. We accompany the police, paramedics and journalists working at those sometimes dangerous and uncontrollable gatherings. We switch the view from a demonstrators perspective to those humans whose job it is to help keep democracy alive. How do they feel about the way people interact who do not share a common world view? How do they see themselves between “enemy lines”, ignored or even hated by both sides yet trying to protect and serve them all?