They form a human chain in front of the Reichstag and chant anti-fascist slogans: According to the police, almost 150,000 people are demonstrating against right-wing extremists in the center of Berlin, and more than two hundred peaceful rallies are planned in the country.
“We are 300,000 people in Berlin and tens of thousands on the streets all over Germany and in the live stream. You are crazy!” said the organizers on X (formerly Twitter).
The square in front of the Reichstag, in the middle of the power district, was full of people in the middle of the day. According to AFP journalists, many people who had no access were redirected to the banks of the Spree and the adjacent zoo.
“All together against fascism!” the crowd chanted, followed by thousands of people live on YouTube.
AFP
“From the heart instead of hate”, “Racism is not an alternative”, “Freedom Equality Fuck AfD”, alluding to the anti-migration and anti-system party, Alternative for Germany, we could read on the colorful signs of the demonstrators .
The 200 rallies planned in the country for several weeks testify to the shock caused by the revelation on January 10 by the German investigative medium Correctiv about a meeting of extremists in Potsdam, near Berlin, where a mass meeting was planned in November for the expulsion of foreigners or people foreign origin was discussed.
Against the backdrop of economic slowdown and inflation, the AfD continues to make progress in the polls, just a few months before three important regional elections in the east of the country.
AFP
“I don't know if these protests will have an impact on AfD voters, but it is important to make a statement because humanity in relationships between people is disappearing and we need more humanity and respect for our differences,” said Margret Hurth, a 53-year-old educator in Berlin, told AFP.
The rally was organized by the “Hand in Hand” movement, which brings together almost 1,800 organizations, including the Friday for Future organization and the Campact citizens' alliance.
Martin Raue, a 38-year-old university professor, came from Sweden for the occasion: “I came to set an example. I am born in Germany.
AFP
Jonas Schmidt, a train driver from Bremen, said: “We all have to strengthen ourselves and not give up, because the AfD is strong and the idea is to intimidate us. We are showing here that we are more numerous than them.”
The capital's law enforcement authorities said they had deployed 700 police officers to the scene.
Several subway and bus stops, including the one at the Brandenburg Gate, were closed, the BVG said on X, while there were traffic delays in the Mitte district.
In Potsdam, the capital of the neighboring state of Brandenburg, a human chain formed around the state parliament building, according to local media.
“Whether in Eisenach, Homburg or Berlin: In cities all over the country, many citizens are coming together this weekend to demonstrate against forgetting, against hatred and incitement.” “A strong signal for democracy and our constitution,” explained the Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Saturday morning on X.
“The AfD is developing ever more radical forces. It is a deeply right-wing extremist party. I am literally shocked every time I hear this hate speech,” said CSU leader Markus Söder to the Rheinische Post.
“Where do we stand in Germany when a government calls for a demonstration against part of the population?” declared the AfD on X and denounced a “campaign against the only real opposition party in Germany”.