Thousands Protest Right-Wing Extremism and AfD in North Rhine-Westphalia
Over the weekend, thousands of people took to the streets in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) to protest against the rise of right-wing extremism and the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. The largest demonstration, organized by the "Düsseldorf stellt sich quer" alliance, drew an estimated 13,000 participants to the state capital on Saturday.
Additional protests against the AfD took place at other locations in Düsseldorf, with approximately 1,200 people in attendance. Placards carried by protesters bore slogans such as "Human Rights Instead of Right-Wing People" and "All of Düsseldorf Hates the AfD."
Several smaller protests were also held in NRW on Sunday, exactly one week ahead of the German federal election.
Thousands Rally in Düsseldorf
In Düsseldorf, the main protest began with a gathering of several thousand people in front of the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB) headquarters in the city center. Due to the higher-than-expected turnout, the police and organizers had to adjust the protest route.
The police had prepared extensively for the event and were present in force throughout the city. The AfD had expected 450 participants at two of its own rallies. However, according to police, only 30 people attended a morning event in the Oberbilk district, which focused on the slogan "Remigration Creates Living Space." A counter-demonstration organized by approximately 200 people also took place nearby.
An AfD election rally held on Saturday afternoon attracted around 80 participants, while around 1,000 protesters demonstrated nearby. According to a DPA reporter, a man attacked a speaker on the AfD stage during the rally but was quickly removed by security. The police did not provide details on the incident.
Peaceful Demonstration and Counter-Protests
The police said that a total of eight criminal charges were filed in connection with the weekend’s events. However, all protests ended without any significant incidents.
The main demonstration remained peaceful, with participants carrying signs with messages such as "If the AfD is the Answer, How Stupid Was the Question?" and "Democracy Instead of Demagogy." Artist Jacques Tilly also contributed two float-vehicles to the protest, which satirized the AfD’s policies in the style of Carnival parades.
Protests in Other NRW Cities
On Sunday, several hundred people took to the streets in various cities across NRW. In Erftstadt, Rhein-Erft-Kreis, around 850 demonstrators gathered, with more people arriving throughout the afternoon.
In Leichlingen, Rheinisch-Bergischer Kreis, hundreds of people marched under the slogan "Colorful Instead of Brown" to protest against right-wing extremism. Participants carried placards with slogans such as "Separate Trash, Not People" and "Brown Belongs in the Toilet." According to reports, between 800 and 1,000 people attended the event.
