Tens of thousands of Germans took to the streets to protest against the far right.
The demonstrations come in response to a report claiming that several members of the far-right Alternative for Germany party participated in a meeting where Plans to deport immigrants They were discussed collectively.
in BerlinCrowds braved freezing temperatures to show their condemnation.
Banners reading: “Racism is no alternative” and “Nazis out.”
Organizers said that 350,000 gathered, while local media reported that the police estimated the number at about 100,000.
“We need to do more about what is happening in Germany,” said Lydia, who held a rainbow banner high. “We don’t want any Nazis to come back and we want to have a colored society.”
Lydia says: “We don't want any Nazis back.”
“It makes me scared,” Delilah says.
Many fear that Germany is heading in a direction they are uncomfortable with.
“Racist people are on the rise and we would like to send a signal that we don't like that,” Ovi explained.
Delilah added: “It makes me feel afraid. You can feel it everywhere; there is movement more and more to the right side. That's why I like coming here.”
In Munich, the protests were canceled due to overcrowding after about 100,000 people participated.
Huge crowds also gathered in cities including Frankfurt, Cologne and Hamburg over the weekend.
Many demonstrators are calling for the Alternative for Germany party to be banned.
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Some have compared the so-called “re-immigration” proposal to the Nazis' initial plan to deport European Jews to Madagascar.
German Interior Minister Nancy Weiser recently told reporters: “What we see here is not oblivious to history, but rather a deliberate pursuit of Nazi ideologies. What we see are far-right networks and far-right ideologies.”
“This is a clear attempt to racially determine who belongs to Germany and who does not, and we will not allow this.”
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz takes part in a protest in Potsdam
In a video message ahead of the weekend's demonstrations, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz welcomed the protests as “good and right.”
“Right-wing extremists are attacking our democracy. They want to destroy our cohesion,” he warned.
Investigation reveals alleged 'master plan'
The investigation by the Correctiv journalist network claimed that a “master plan” for the mass deportation of German asylum seekers and German citizens of foreign origin was discussed at a meeting in Potsdam in November attended by AfD members, neo-Nazis and other extremists. Right extremists.
Two members of the Christian Democrats (CDU), the party of former Chancellor Angela Merkel, were also said to be present, although neither of them was reported to hold a position in the party.
At the meeting, the Austrian leader of the far-right Identity movement, Martin Sellner, reportedly proposed a “remigration” project that would force “non-integrated” immigrants to leave Germany even if they hold citizenship.
The Correctiv newspaper reported, citing hidden camera footage and accounts from attendees and journalists who were monitoring the hotel where the meeting took place, that the idea of sending the deportees to a “model country” in North Africa was raised.
Huge crowds gathered in cities including Frankfurt
The AfD denies that the plans are partisan politics
The Alternative for Germany party, which ranks second in nationwide opinion polls, denied that these plans were party policy.
Co-leader Alice Weidel separated from one of her advisors who participated in the talks.
Simon Green, professor of politics at Aston University, said: “Banning a party that is already doing a good job and has significant public support brings with it real political risks too because of what happens to those supporters.”
“Defeating populist and far-right parties through legal means is a process full of risks. It is usually better to defeat these parties politically rather than legally.”
Despite the AfD's denials, several cities saw demonstrations throughout the week.
The Alternative for Germany party is under investigation by the security authorities in several German states, and faces the risk of being declared an extremist organization by the national authorities, which could lead to its ban.
The party denies that it is extremist or racist.
