Berlin, Freiburg, Cologne and now also Mainz. Around 5,000 people came to a demonstration against the right on Thursday evening – including the Prime Minister.
“The rally is a strong signal,” said Prime Minister Malu Dreyer (SPD) on Thursday evening in Mainz. “We need real solidarity against the right so that it becomes clear: the democratic majority in this country stands together.”
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The expulsion plans that have recently become public are a frightening climax of right-wing extremist ideas, which leading figures in the AfD also spread. “Right-wing extremists threaten our democracy,” said the Prime Minister. Since Potsdam, “nobody can say anymore, ‘I didn’t know, I didn’t know what they were planning’.”
Protest march to Gutenbergplatz
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A protest march started at Mainz Central Station at 6 p.m. It led via Schillerplatz to Gutenbergplatz. The final rally took place there with several speeches. The motto of the demo was “Signs against the right – no place for Nazis”.
The police initially said there were 2,000 participants, but later revised upwards several times. After the event ended, it was said that “more than 5,000 people” had taken part.
Actor Brandt shows solidarity with demonstrators
In addition to numerous state politicians, the actor and writer Matthias Brandt also expressed his solidarity with the demonstrations against right-wing extremism. “From day to day the AfD exposes itself more and more as an openly right-wing extremist, anti-democratic, anti-European, anti-tolerance and anti-freedom party,” said the writer and son of ex-Chancellor Willy Brandt (1913-1992).
“A large majority of the population wants nothing to do with right-wing radicals and this majority is now showing that,” said Brandt. On Thursday evening at the Mainz State Theater he received the Carl Zuckmayer Medal, the highest cultural award in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate.
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AfD announces legal action
The Rhineland-Palatinate AfD has meanwhile announced legal action against the state government. The State Chancellery advertised a rally against the political opposition on its social media channels and thereby violated the neutrality requirement.
Students organized demonstrations against the right
The event was organized by a student friends group consisting of seven students. They have set themselves the goal of countering right-wing extremist forces.
“We spontaneously sat together last week and it was a mixture of fear, powerlessness and anger,” reports Jasmin Klöpper from the group of friends. Parties were asked whether a protest was planned. Because that wasn’t the case, the group itself became active.
Demonstrators in Mainz
SWR
It is important to stand here and show ourselves.
The trigger for the protests was the secret meeting between right-wing extremists and AfD politicians in Potsdam in the fall. Among other things, it was about how people with a history of immigration can be expelled from Germany.
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