The meeting of right-wing and right-wing extremist groups in Potsdam outraged many people. That’s why there are demonstrations in many cities today. 35,000 people gathered in Frankfurt and 30,000 in Hanover.
In many German cities, tens of thousands of people have once again gathered to protest against right-wing extremism. In Frankfurt am Main Due to the great interest, the police blocked access to Römerplatz, where the rally was planned, before the demonstration began. The meeting area was later expanded to include Paulsplatz and Braubachstrasse because the Römerberg was full, according to the police. According to estimates by the police and the organizers, around 35,000 people came to the rally under the motto “Defend democracy – Frankfurt against the AfD and the shift to the right”.
The mood was peaceful, said a police spokesman. Co-organizer Peter Josiger said the deportation plans discussed at the secret meeting in Potsdam were “nothing less than an attack on the basis of our coexistence.” Therefore, there is a need for “an active stand up against the right from across society.”
The “Kassel stands together” alliance started in the early afternoon with a rally in front of the State Theater. Participants carried posters with slogans such as “Nazis and anti-Semites must be expatriated” and “Together against extremists for democracy.” According to police, around 12,000 people took part in the demonstration. People also took to the streets against right-wing extremism in Giessen, Limburg and other cities in Hesse.
In Erfurt, thousands gathered on the cathedral square – many brought home-made signs.
“You have to do antifascism yourself”
In Erfurt Around 9,000 people gathered on Cathedral Square from midday onwards. A demonstration is to move through the city center under the motto “Never again is now – you have to do anti-fascism yourself”.
Many rallies in North Rhine-Westphalia
Numerous demonstrations against right-wing extremism, racism and the rise of the AfD are also taking place in North Rhine-Westphalia. Actions began in Bottrop, Recklinghausen and Gladbeck in the morning. Alone in Recklinghausen According to police estimates, between 6,000 and 7,000 people took to the streets Wuppertal there were between 5,000 and 6,000 people.
Larger demonstrations were registered in Aachen, Dortmund and Detmold, among others. In Dortmund The police expect several thousand participants.
Big crowds in Buxtehude
Demonstrations have also been registered in many cities in Lower Saxony. ndr.de has put together a list. In Hanover According to police, 35,000 people were involved. Prime Minister Stephan Weil (SPD) was enthusiastic about the crowd. “What you are showing here is the protection of the constitution in action,” he shouted to the protesters. There had already been a spontaneous demonstration in Hanover on Tuesday evening. According to police, around 8,500 people took part in the event in the Linden-Nord district.
In Buxtehude According to police estimates, 2,000 people came together instead of the 100 registered participants.
Good atmosphere at Koblenz Münzplatz
In Rhineland-Palatinate, among other things, there is currently… Koblenz A rally was held, which was attended by around 5,000 people. The motto is “For Democracy – Against Fascism”. An alliance of several parties called for the protest. Because the Left Party is among them, the CDU and FDP refused to participate.
Horror at secret meetings in November
Rallies are also planned in numerous other cities this weekend, including Berlin, Cologne and Munich. For days there have been demonstrations in Germany against the rise of right-wing forces. On Friday afternoon, a demonstration in Hamburg was canceled by the organizers because of the unexpectedly high number of participants. The police counted 50,000 demonstrators, the organizers spoke of 80,000 people.
The wave of protests was triggered by “Correctiv” research into a meeting between AfD representatives with neo-Nazis and entrepreneurs at the end of November, at which the mass expulsion of people with a migration background was discussed.