200,000 Gather Across Germany In Protests vs Far-Right

Around 200,000 people took to the streets in Germany on Saturday, with most of them in the capital Berlin, as nationwide protests against the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party entered their fourth week, as reported by Andreas Rinke and Christoph Steitz for Reuters.

Protests also occurred in cities such as Mainz, Dresden, and Hanover, signaling growing alarm at strong public support for the AfD. I Photo: AfD Berlin Facebook

Protests also occurred in cities such as Mainz, Dresden, and Hanover, signaling growing alarm at strong public support for the AfD.

Approximately 150,000 people gathered at the Reichstag parliament building in Berlin under the slogan "We are the Firewall" (Wir sind die Brandmauer) to protest against right-wing extremism and show support for democracy.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz wrote on X that the protests were "a strong sign in favor of democracy and our constitution."

The AfD's success has sparked concern among Germany's mainstream parties, who fear it could sweep three state elections in eastern Germany in September, despite recent polls showing a slight decline in AfD support.

Jakob Springfeld, speaking for the NGO Solidarity Network Saxony, expressed shock that mass demonstrations against the far-right had taken so long, given the AfD's success in many smaller communities already.

"But there's a jolt now. And the fact that the jolt is coming provides hope, I believe."

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