© EPA-EFE
Tens of thousands of people took to the streets in various German cities on Saturday to demonstrate against the far right. According to the police, around 100,000 demonstrators took part in Düsseldorf alone.
Demonstrations also took place in many other places in Germany, in some places with prominent political support. In Sigmaringen, the Prime Minister of Baden-Württemberg, Winfried Kretschmann (Greens), personally attended the demonstration. In Osnabrück, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) warned against the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party during a meeting.
Pistorius said AfD wants to change the system. “That means nothing other than that they want to return to the dark times of racial madness, discrimination, inequality and injustice.” Pistorius also drew a comparison with the Weimar Republic, which did not fall because of its enemies, but because of the weakness of its friends. “Today we know better, history should not repeat itself,” said the SPD politician. Police and organizers in Osnabrück spoke of around 25,000 participants.
© EPA-EFE
© EPA-EFE
In Düsseldorf the demonstration was organized under the motto “Against the AfD – We will not be silent. We don’t look away. We are taking action!” In Kiel, the organizers counted more than 15,000 participants in a demonstration.
People are also taking to the streets in other major cities such as Berlin and Hamburg. The count is still ongoing there.
Country is on its feet
Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) welcomed the numerous demonstrations against right-wing extremism in recent days and weeks. “Our country is on its feet. Millions of citizens are taking to the streets,” he said in his weekly video “Kanzler kompakt”. “It is the cohesion of democrats that makes democracy strong. Our democracy is not given by God. It is man-made. She is strong when we support her. And she needs us if she is attacked.”
The protests were sparked by revelations that several AfD party members, including co-chairman Alice Weidel’s right-hand man, took part in a meeting in Potsdam with leaders of the Identitarian Movement and discussed plans for a mass “remigration” of foreigners from Germany. In response, there have been mass demonstrations across the country for several days against the extreme right-wing party and against racism. The Holocaust will also be commemorated throughout Europe on Saturday.