09 Sep 2024 | 03:03 PM UTC
Germany: Civil society protests likely in urban centers nationwide through mid-September /update 1
Protests denouncing the Alternative fur Deutschland (AfD) party are likely in urban centers across Germany through mid-September.
Civil society groups plan to continue to stage protests against the Alternative Fur Deutschland (AfD) party in urban centers across Germany through mid-September and are likely to persist with rallies through late September. Demonstrations in the coming days are likely to denounce the results of state elections in Thuringia and Saxony, which occurred on Sept. 1, as well as a response to AfD rallies and events nationwide. Planned protests include:
Berlin: At Tempelhofer Damm, 08:30 Sept. 12;
Dusseldorf: At Bach Street, 18:00 Sept. 9;
Mannheim: At Friedrichsring, 10:30, Sept. 14.
Minor events are likely to increase across Brandenburg ahead of the planned state elections, which will take place Sept. 22. Protests are most likely in central squares and markets, outside government buildings, and on major roads. The largest protests will likely occur in major cities, including Berlin, Hamburg, Leipzig, and Munich. Events in smaller urban centers sometimes draw significant crowds in central areas. Demonstrations are also likely to increase in size on weekends or after business hours on weekdays.
Heightened security is likely near all protest sites. Counter-protests are possible, and scuffles between protesters and police or between supporters of rival political groupings cannot be ruled out.
Avoid all protests as a standard precaution. Monitor local media for updates on upcoming protests. Plan for extra travel time near protest sites. Strictly heed all instructions from law enforcement officers. Immediately leave the area at the first sign that any security disturbance may occur.
Demonstrations denouncing the AfD have been taking place since a media investigation released in mid-January revealed the party's support for the deportation of immigrants and their descendants. Civil society groups have denounced the AfD's nationalist stance and anti-immigrant rhetoric, as well as perceptions that individual members espouse extremist views or sympathize with Russia. Additionally, a German court ruled in May that security forces could keep the party under surveillance as a "suspected extremist group," and civil society groups have since increasingly called for the party to be banned under Germany's anti-extremism laws. Additionally, politicians and private individuals continue to file legal complaints against AfD politicians on various charges, including inciting hatred.
The AfD's successes in the state elections in Thuringia and Saxony will likely prompt more protests against and in support of the AfD nationwide. The upcoming state elections in Brandenburg on Sept. 22, will likely continue to prompt demonstrations in the region.
