Various demonstrations of tens of thousands of people against the far-right Alternative for Germany party were organized in various parts of Germany over the weekend.
A demonstration against the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party had to be stopped in Munich on Sunday, because more participants arrived than had been estimated in the event announcement.
According to the organizers of the demonstration, around 50,000 people gathered in the center of Munich. According to some estimates, there were even more people, even more than 100,000. The organizers had to ask people to disperse for security reasons.
The protests against the AfD were started by the German investigative journalism website Correctiv told, that the members of the AfD had discussed, among other things, the deportation of millions of immigrants at the extremists’ meeting. The anti-immigration AfD has confirmed that its members attended the meeting.
The leader of the Austrian identitarian movement also participated in the meeting Martin Sellner. The movement supports the population exchange theory, which is a far-right conspiracy theory.
On Sunday, large anti-AfD demonstrations were also organized in other German cities. For example, it was estimated that 70,000 people took part in the march in Cologne and 45,000 in Bremen.
Extensive support
Already on Saturday, around 250,000 people gathered for anti-AfD protests across Germany. According to the police, demonstrations were organized on Saturday in several different cities, such as Frankfurt, Hanover and Dortmund.
According to the organizers’ estimate, up to 1.4 million people participated in the weekend’s demonstrations.
The anti-AfD demonstrations have gathered behind them a wide range of support, from politicians to football managers.
Also the Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz attended a demonstration a week ago. Scholz said any plan to deport immigrants or citizens would be an attack on the country’s democracy.
On Sunday, the federal president also gave his support to the demonstrations Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
– They (protesters) are defending our republic and our constitution against our enemies, he said in his video message.
Source: AFP