Berlin Unites Against the Rise of the Far Right: Multitudes Protest Extremism and Normalization of Hate
In a resounding display of solidarity, tens of thousands of Berliners took to the streets to denounce the Alternative for Germany (AfD) and condemn the normalization of right-wing ideologies. Berlin police estimated the crowd at 30,000, while organizers pegged the turnout at 38,000 people who rallied together for democracy and unity.
The demonstration, organized by the "Gemeinsam Hand in Hand" alliance, featured prominent performers such as Herbert Grönemeyer and The Ärzte’s drummer Bela B. Grönemeyer delivered a passionate speech advocating for an open and immigrant-friendly Germany. "Place your cross with a democratic party," he implored the demonstrators. "It is five minutes to midnight for all of us," Grönemeyer declared. "Our democracy is under heavy attack."
The rally’s organizers denounced the "normalization of right-wing policies and discourse" and the "rise of the extreme right in Germany and Europe." Speakers targeted the AfD, which has been accused of harboring neo-Nazi sympathies, as well as the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz.
Merz’s willingness to collaborate with the AfD on immigration policy has sparked outrage among anti-extremism groups. Despite his controversial stance, the CDU’s poll numbers have not been significantly affected, indicating a worrying trend of increasing public tolerance for right-wing views.
The Berlin demonstration was part of a broader wave of anti-right-wing protests that have swept across Germany in recent weeks. The surge in protests was triggered by the Bundestag’s vote on migration policy in January, where Merz accepted AfD support for stricter measures.
On Saturday, demonstrations against the far right were held in multiple German cities. In Frankfurt am Main, an estimated 15,000 people gathered under the banner "Choose Love and Democracy, Not Hate and Discrimination." The event was part of a nationwide campaign by the Christopher Street Day (CSD) movement, which called for protests in 50 cities. A similar demonstration in Mainz, with the slogan "It is Five Minutes to Midnight – Choose Love," attracted 5,000 participants. Protests were also staged in Berlin, Bavaria, Hamburg, and Baden-Württemberg.
The protests underscore the growing concern over the normalization of right-wing extremism in Germany. As the country prepares for federal elections in September, the message of these demonstrations is clear: democracy and tolerance must prevail over hate and division.
