Habeck: Encouraging sign
Hundreds of thousands against the right – demolition in Munich after overcrowding
January 21, 2024, 4:15 p.m
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The weekend is dedicated to the fight against right-wing extremism and the AfD. Hundreds of thousands of people across the country are following the numerous calls. Tens of thousands take to the streets in Munich. Police end the protest due to security concerns over the crowds.
The nationwide protests against the right-wing and the AfD as well as for democracy do not stop. After hundreds of thousands of participants nationwide on Saturday, tens of thousands are on the streets again this Sunday. Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier viewed the rallies as a sign of strength. The demonstrators are very different people, but have one thing in common, he explained in a video message. “You are now standing up against misanthropy and right-wing extremism,” he continued. “These people encourage us all.”
Steinmeier called for an alliance of all democrats. The future of democracy does not depend on the loudness of its opponents, but on the strength of those who defend democracy. “Let us show that we are stronger together,” said the head of state.
In Berlin According to initial police estimates, at least 60,000 people came together. Since the influx is large and the situation is dynamic, there could also be 100,000 people, said a police spokesman. The organizers spoke of 350,000 participants.
In Munich The organizers estimated the number of participants at up to 250,000. According to a spokesman, the police initially assumed there were around 100,000 people. Because of the large crowd, the situation became uneasy. The police, fire brigade and organizers then jointly decided to end the rally.
In Cologne According to the police, “certainly several tens of thousands of people” came together for a demonstration march from the Deutzer Werft through the city center and a demonstration that started a little later. More than 50 parties, organizations and initiatives from the “Cologne stands across” alliance called for the protests. The organizers spoke of more than 50,000 participants – and more on the way. The rally entitled “Protect Democracy, Fight AfD” is also supported by the bands Kasalla, Höhner, Cat Ballou, Bläck Föös, Paveier and Brings. The bands wrote on their fan pages in advance: “We hope that we are all loud. And it becomes clear: this far and no further.”
Mayor Henriette Reker appealed to the demo participants to enter into dialogue against hatred and misanthropy. “We are the ones who defend democracy. Speak to those who attack democracy.” Demos are also planned in many other cities in North Rhine-Westphalia.
In Bremen According to the police, up to 45,000 people gathered under the motto “Loud against the right”. The organizers spoke of around 50,000 participants. The gathering in the Domshof spread to the adjacent areas such as the market square, the police said. “It was an absolutely peaceful sign against the right,” said a police spokesman. “We have reached a point where all democrats have to stick together and stand up,” emphasized Bremen’s Prime Minister Andreas Bovenschulte. He appealed to continue speaking out against the right after the rally. “Continue to stay loud, continue to show a clear edge. Even in everyday life, at work, in the sports club, on the street.” Parties, unions, companies and Bundesliga soccer team Werder Bremen called for participation. Two private individuals registered for the demo in Bremen.
Several thousand people also went in cottbus on the street. The civil society alliance “indivisible South Brandenburg”, which called for the demo in the city, spoke of around 5,000 people, the police counted around 3,500. “I’m standing up here and have tears in my eyes,” said Brandenburg’s Prime Minister Dietmar Woidke. “Lausitz stands up for democracy, Lusatia stands up against right-wing extremism and against racism.” Woidke warned of the consequences of extremism. “Nobody can say today that they didn’t know what these extremists plan to do with this country, what they plan to do with people who have a different origin, a different religion or who have a different opinion. Defend the beginnings!” Cottbus in Lusatia is considered a stronghold of right-wing extremism in Brandenburg.
In Saarbrücken According to police estimates, almost 12,000 people demonstrated. The action under the motto “Against fascism, populism and the right” was registered by a private individual and was peaceful, as a police spokeswoman said.
Around 10,000 people took part Flensburg According to police estimates, it was a protest. Despite the crowded Südermarkt, the demonstration remained peaceful under the motto “Together for democracy – take a stand together,” it said.
In Offenbach Around 3,000 people took to the streets against right-wing extremism. The action under the motto “Demo against the right – no foothold for fascism” started peacefully, as the police announced. The city also advertised participation in the campaign on its homepage.
Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck viewed the demonstrations as an encouraging sign for democracy. “Democracy lives from the people who stand up for it,” said the Green politician to the “Augsburger Allgemeine”. It is impressive to see that many people are now “taking to the streets and showing the flag for our democracy.”
According to counts by the police and the organizers, a total of at least 300,000 people demonstrated nationwide yesterday, Saturday. According to police and organizers, there were 35,000 people in Frankfurt am Main and Hanover alone.
Recently there were large demonstrations against the right in many cities across Germany after a meeting of right-wing radicals in Potsdam became known in November. AfD politicians, individual members of the CDU and the very conservative Union of Values and Martin Sellner as the former head of the right-wing extremist Identitarian Movement in Austria also took part.