Thousands of Germans Protest Against Far-Right Party

Tens of thousands demonstrated throughout Germany in opposition to the far-right AfD party this Saturday.

Police reported approximately 150,000 protesters in Berlin, with a human chain forming outside the parliament, while organizers estimated participation at 300,000. Similar demonstrations occurred in roughly 200 other cities.

The protests, a reaction to the exposure of AfD's talks about expelling immigrants, as reported by Correctiv on January 10, come as the AfD rises in polls ahead of significant eastern regional elections.

Protesters in Berlin, chanting against racism, carried signs like "Heart instead of hate." Overcrowding at the rally's location led others to gather in adjacent parks and along the Spree River.

Activist Margret Hurth expressed the need to promote humanity, while attendee Martin Raue, a German-born university professor from Sweden, emphasized setting an example.

The Berlin event was arranged by the "Hand in Hand" collective, comprising 1,800 groups including the Fridays for Future climate activists, and was secured by 700 police officers, concluding peacefully.

In Potsdam, near Berlin, protesters formed a chain around the state assembly building. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz praised the nationwide protests for demonstrating democratic strength, while CSU leader Markus Soeder criticized the AfD's extremist tendencies.

The AfD, amidst controversy over its stance on immigration and association with an Austrian white pride figure, enjoys significant support in parts of former East Germany, where elections are forthcoming.

The party decried what it views as a targeted campaign against it on social media, questioning the government's support for protests against a segment of its citizens.