A week before the Berlin election, thousands of people demonstrated against right-wing extremism in several German cities and campaigned for democracy, human rights and social justice. According to the police, around 13,000 people in Berlin took part in a star demonstration at the Red City Hall. Significantly more participants were also counted in Düsseldorf and Mainz than originally expected.
Around 100 organizations called for the Berlin rally, including alliances against right-wing extremism, trade unions and environmental and climate protection groups. Under the motto “Time for something to happen!” According to the organizers, the participants wanted to send a signal against division and for a solidarity-based, cosmopolitan city. The demands ranged from decisive action against right-wing extremism to the protection of democracy and human rights to climate protection, social participation and a child-friendly transport policy.
Representatives of trade unions and initiatives criticized, among other things, growing social inequality and what they saw as misguided transport and urban policies. Demonstrations against right-wing extremism and for democracy were also announced in Bremen, Cottbus, Dresden, Düsseldorf, Erfurt, Hamburg, Magdeburg, Munich and Potsdam.
According to the police, around 12,000 people took part in a so-called test demo in the Victory Gate area in Munich - four times as many as originally registered. The nationwide campaign demands that the parties classified by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution as suspected right-wing extremists or confirmed right-wing extremists should be examined by the Federal Constitutional Court.
At the same time, German flags were flying at Königsplatz. There, around 350 demonstrators demanded: “This government has to go.” According to police, around 100 counter-demonstrators gathered there.
German flags could also be seen in Bamberg: According to the police, around 1,500 people marched through the city with drums and whistles during a demonstration by the “Unity for Germany - Project M1llion” initiative, according to the police. “Merz has to go,” said one banner. The group is calling, among other things, for new elections, a migration stop and the resignation of the federal government.
A police spokesman reported that there were only brief delays. 14 people tried to stop the march with a sit-in. Some would have had to be carried away before the “Project M1llion” demonstrators could march on.
The “Grandmas Against the Right” were also among the participants.
According to consistent information from the police and organizers, around 20,000 people in Düsseldorf marched under the motto "Not a step back! Against the AfD and right-wing agitation!" onto the street. This means that the originally registered number of participants was doubled. Several initiatives called for the protest, including “Düsseldorf stands across the board”, the “Düsseldorfer Appell” and the “PRÜF NRW” initiative.
According to the police, the demonstration was peaceful and there were no counter-demonstrations. The participants also included the “Grandmas Against the Right” and numerous families with children. The organizers warned of the consequences of a further strengthening of the AfD and promoted an open, democratic society.
Significantly more people came together in Mainz than expected. According to police estimates, around 2,000 people took part in a demonstration for the nationwide “PRÜF” campaign, which calls for an examination of parties that are classified by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution as suspected right-wing extremists or as confirmed right-wing extremists. Around 500 participants were expected.
Previously, around 700 people were in Mainz under the motto “Time for action: Together for democracy!” took to the streets. The demonstration organized by “Mainz For Democracy” and the “Time to Act” alliance then led to the “PRÜF” rally. According to police, both events took place without incident.
According to the organizers, more than 10,000 people took part in rallies against a shift to the right in Cologne and Essen after the state elections in Saxony-Anhalt.
