Thousands of people protested on Sunday against a march by right-wing extremists in the run-up to the 79th anniversary of the destruction of Dresden in World War II. According to the police, almost 5,000 people took part in the counter-protest in the pouring rain. The police counted around 1,000 participants in the right-wing extremist demonstration – a so-called funeral march. The officers were on duty with a large contingent.
police temporarily surrounds 150 counter-demonstrators
The right-wing extremists’ elevator route on the edge of Dresden’s city center was almost hermetically sealed off. According to MDR reporters, counter-demonstrators tried to get on the neo-Nazi route near the University of Technology and Economics, not far from the main train station. The police prevented that. As she announced on X (formerly Twitter), around 150 people were taken into “police action”. Reporters reported that the counter-demonstrators from the left-wing camp were surrounded for a long time. Identities have been established. The police had previously stated the goal of separating the camps and intervening in the event of possible blockades. She had prepared herself for a “confrontational meeting situation”.
From the left spectrum, criticism was expressed on social media about the disproportionately harsh actions of the officials.
helicopter and horse relay in action
The Saxon police said they were supported by officials from Thuringia, Brandenburg, Hamburg, Bavaria and Hesse as well as the federal police. A helicopter circled over Dresden and mounted police were also on site.
The counter-protest turned to loud chants against the right-wing extremist march. Three demonstrations had united in the counter-protest. Dresden’s mayor Dirk Hilbert (FDP) also joined in, the “Sächsische Zeitung” reported.