The secret meeting of right-wing extremists to expel people en masse from Germany is alarming society. Thousands of people have been taking to the streets for days and new demonstrations are planned.
After a secret meeting of right-wing extremists became known, in which representatives of the AfD also participated, thousands of people demonstrated against the right in many cities. There were protest marches and rallies again on Thursday. According to police reports, around 2,000 people gathered in Mainz at a rally “Signal against the right – No place for Nazis”, at which the Prime Minister of Rhineland-Palatinate, Malu Dreyer (SPD), also spoke. Right-wing extremists were planning “a society we don’t want” and “mass deportations,” she said. Now all citizens must stand up “and make it clear: we are the many in this society, those who want to live in a democracy, in freedom, equality and together”.
Numerous rallies on Friday, demonstration postponed in Hamburg
Numerous demonstrations are planned across the country in the coming days, for example in Stuttgart, Halle, Erfurt, Dortmund and Karlsruhe.
However, a rally planned for Friday in Hamburg could not take place on the square in front of the City Hall as planned because the AfD scheduled a parliamentary group meeting at short notice. This means that Hamburg's district prohibition law comes into force, which prohibits meetings and demonstrations within 350 meters of the City Hall, said a spokeswoman for the Hamburg citizenship.
The organizers of the rally “Hamburg stands up – together against right-wing extremism and neo-Nazi networks” then moved the demonstration to nearby Jungfernstieg. They expect around 10,000 participants.
Sports clubs mobilize
Warnings about right-wing extremists also come from churches, associations and clubs. Several Bundesliga football clubs followed the call to defend democratic values in the 2024 election year. For example, SC Freiburg coach Christian Streich explained: “If you don't stand up now, you haven't understood anything. (…) It's five minutes to twelve,” said Streich. In Leipzig, Streich's fellow coach Marco Rose warned: “I think it's very important that we stand up against stupidity and right-wing extremism in all forms. I think it's good that people are doing this, that they clearly show their colors and take to the streets, go.”
“Never again now! Come everyone,” wrote FSV Mainz 05 at an anti-right meeting planned for the evening. Second division club FC St. Pauli sent out a circular calling on all members to attend the “Hamburg Rises” event on Friday afternoon at the Rathausmarkt.
Support from churches
The protesters also receive support from the two large Christian churches in Germany. The president of the Protestant synod, Anna-Nicole Heinrich, called on her Instagram channel to participate in actions for an open and tolerant society. “Extremist, racist and ethno-nationalist attitudes hit God in the face,” Heinrich said. “When extremists brazenly conspire to displace millions of people, it becomes clear that our democracy has implacable enemies.”
The Catholic bishops responsible for East Germany expressed concern in a joint appeal. “Many people no longer understand political decisions. They are insecure, angry and afraid of social decline. This must not lead us to let ourselves be dominated by populist statements and apparently simple solutions”, says a letter about which “Spiegel ” first reported.
Referring to their conscience, the bishops declare that they cannot accept the positions of extremist parties such as “III. Weg”, the Heimat party or the AfD. “Crude fantasies of expulsion of migrants and their supporters, rejection of offers of protection to refugees, exclusion of people with disabilities, exclusive focus on performance, denial of man-made climate change and general contempt for actors and institutions policies are incompatible with these basic values of our society.”
In addition to the European Parliament elections, state elections will take place in 2024 in Brandenburg, Saxony and Thuringia, as well as local elections in nine federal states.
Secret meeting of right-wing extremists including AfD
The reason for the protests and demonstrations is a report from the media company Correctiv from last week about a previously unknown meeting of right-wing radicals with politicians from the AfD and CDU in Potsdam in November 2023. The former head of the right-wing extremist group Identitarian movement in Austria, Martin Sellner, According to his own statements, they spoke of “remigration”. Right-wing extremists often want to say that large numbers of people of foreign origin should leave the country – even under duress.