AfD demonstration in Fürstenwalde: Höcke and Springer call for political change

On German Unity Day, AfD supporters protested against the federal government's policies at a demonstration led by Thuringia's state chairman Björn Höcke. During a procession through the eastern Brandenburg town of Fürstenwalde, people shouted “Merz has to go”. They waved German flags, accompanied by drums.

The AfD's event on Unity Day was also accompanied by a protest from an alliance. In the city with around 34,000 inhabitants there were posters saying “Björn is a Nazi”. On the cathedral square, a few hundred meters away from the AfD, rainbow colors shone: a festival for diversity and against the right was taking place there. “Our home is Bunter” read one banner.

The police, who were deployed with a large number of forces, spoke of around 1,500 participants at the AfD event. A spokeswoman for the AfD state party said the number was 3,500.

The police estimated that there were around 500 people at the diversity festival. This is based on the peak number of participants, said a spokesman. The organizers of the festival said that at least 1,400 people celebrated throughout the day.

According to the police, two YouTubers were attacked at the AfD event. A 23-year-old who reported on the event was physically attacked and insulted after he was said to have filmed someone against their will. A little later, according to police, another 24-year-old YouTuber was physically attacked. In both cases, the police filed several reports of bodily harm, insults and violations of the Art Copyright Act.

Before the demonstration through the city, Höcke spoke to cheering supporters at a rally about a “turning mood” after the East German state elections in Saxony-Anhalt and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. “We finally want to be a normal people again,” said the AfD state politician, who is considered the right-wing extremist of his party. He spoke of a “crazy policy” by Merz and Co.

Regarding the debate about an AfD ban, Höcke said: "What is currently being done against the AfD can definitely be classified in the category of psychological terror." The “permanent ban debate” primarily serves to intimidate the party and its supporters.

Both the AfD in Brandenburg and the Thuringian state party headed by Höcke are classified as definitely right-wing extremist by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution. Höcke was convicted twice by the Halle regional court for using a banned SA slogan.

“Relief now” was written on a banner behind which Höcke and Brandenburg’s state chairman René Springer marched through the city. Supporters wore T-shirts with Höcke's portrait and the inscription “Remigration”. Boos and whistles could be heard on the side of the road. The police kept the protesters and AfD supporters apart. The right-wing extremist youth group “German Patriots Forward” was also visible at the rally.

The Brandenburg AfD state chairman Springer set the goal of 50 percent of the vote for the 2029 state election. “44 percent is just not enough. Let’s get 50 in 2029,” he told visitors at the rally. In Saxony-Anhalt, the AfD was by far the strongest force in the state elections on September 6th with 43.8 percent, but missed out on an absolute majority.

The Left recently caused controversy in Fürstenwalde with the poster and the inscription “Björn Höcke is a Nazi”. However, the public prosecutor does not consider it to be a criminal offense.