Migra strike on August 26th in Magdeburg: Migrant traders take a stand against racism and exclusion

“On Wednesday, August 26, 2026, migrant traders in Magdeburg want to take a joint action to send a visible signal against racism, exclusion and for a democratic society. As part of the Migra strike, participating traders and business owners voluntarily close their businesses from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. “We close our doors today so that the doors to a free and democratic society do not close tomorrow.” The background to the campaign is experiences with racism and social exclusion as well as political debates in which people's belonging is increasingly being questioned due to their origins or migration history. Demands for mass deportations and the displacement of people with a migration history from our society also trigger fear and uncertainty among many people with a refugee and migration history…”Press release from August 17, 2026 and further information from the Saxony-Anhalt Refugee Council and also about the rally at 1 p.m. in front of the Saxony-Anhalt state parliament - see more about this:

• Migra (warning) strike successful: Magdeburg on August 26th between “ghost atmosphere” and “culinary catastrophe” - and not all the shops had closed yet...
  • Migra strike in Magdeburg
    “How many businesses will disappear as a result of the AfD's remigration plans? Shortly before the state elections in Saxony-Anhalt, migrant traders protested against right-wing extremism. Co-organizer Dilek on political resistance and solidarity.
    The idea for the “Migra strike” came about in a group of business people, some of us have experience of fleeing ourselves. We wanted to send a strong signal before the elections and took the example of strikes in Turkey: store closings as a form of protest are common there. The aim of the “Migra strike” was to show how many businesses would be lost if the AfD's remigration plans became reality - and how poor Magdeburg would then be. Gastronomy alone is an important part of culture and social life.
    So we approached shop owners. Many were immediately open to the strike. Others had barely considered the danger of the AfD's electoral success. They could not imagine that a fascist party would be elected again in a country that had experienced fascism.
    People here are afraid and some are considering moving away. That's why the strike was exactly right. Because a debate arose, we received a lot of positive feedback and established networks beyond Saxony-Anhalt. (…)
    We must now organize ourselves more and be part of the anti-fascist people's movement as a migrant organization, just as there is a women's movement, a workers' movement or an environmental movement. Together we must eliminate the fascist danger, things cannot continue like this. Because the current multiple crises are interconnected and a fascist party that divides into foreigners and Germans, East and West, is just right...”Article by Penelope Dützmann from November 9th, 2026 in Missy Magazine online 
    • Now see also:  [After the successful Migra strike in Magdeburg] Halle without us? – Migra strike on November 5, 2026 with business closures and a rally
  • Action against exclusion: Migrants in Magdeburg close their shops
    “In Magdeburg, traders with a migration background closed their shops for a few hours on Wednesday. The “Migra strike” was a reaction to the high poll numbers for the AfD before the state elections. Other stores have also joined in. (…) Around 150 shops, including those around Hasselbachplatz in the center, had announced that they would take part in the campaign from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., including restaurants, barbershops and kiosks. In fact, many shops there remained closed. Posters on the doors drew attention to the “Migra strike”. However, some shops remained open despite the campaign.
    The closures were also noticeable for many passers-by. Some were surprised and said they had not heard anything about the event beforehand. Anyone who wanted to eat something during their lunch break sometimes found themselves standing in front of closed doors. A passer-by spoke of a “ghostly atmosphere”, another respondent spoke of a “culinary catastrophe”. (…)
    German businesses, such as Café Mosaik, also took part in the protest. Operator Maria Oss told MDR SACHSEN-ANHALT that the store shows solidarity and supports diversity in Magdeburg.
    Refugee Council considers the action to be successful
    Saeeid Saeeid from the Refugee Council was satisfied after the action. Messages have been received from various cities in Saxony-Anhalt and other federal states showing interest in taking part in the campaign. “We have never experienced solidarity to this extent before,”so Saeeid…”MDR report from August 27, 2026 with some photos and links to many related articles
  • Country without shops as a warning against the AfD
    “According to the organizers, around 160 shops in Magdeburg will remain closed during the “Migrant Strike”. This is intended to draw attention to the danger posed by the AfD.
    On Wednesday morning things look different in front of the Bingöl grill in Magdeburg than on a normal weekday. The store is closed, the lights are off and there are no staff in the store. Instead of customers waiting for their food, there is a group of people in front of the door, excitedly talking about the political situation in Germany. Journalists and camera teams are out and about, conducting interviews and filming through the windows of closed shops and restaurants. Samet watches the events with satisfaction. (…) Together with, according to the organizer, up to 160 other traders in Magdeburg and beyond, Samet decided against profits that day: “Money comes back quickly, but once democracy is gone, it doesn’t come back so quickly,” he explains his decision. (…)
    However, the decision to strike was apparently not as clear for everyone as it was for Yasar and Samet. In the conversation, Samet explains that they had to do a lot of convincing with some business owners. Many would underestimate what could happen under a fascist party like the AfD. They assumed that they would not be affected by the AfD's plans. Through discussions, they were ultimately able to convince many people to join the strike.
    According to the Saxony-Anhalt Refugee Council, solidarity on Wednesday went far beyond Magdeburg. Some came from small towns and villages such as Wolmirsleben or Burg throughout Saxony-Anhalt to pick up posters and show solidarity.  They advised some people not to take part in the strike because, as individual businesses in the area, they could be exposed to right-wing violence. Overall, however, today is a great sign of solidarity, cohesion and also of fighting together for an open society. Many German shops are also not open in solidarity.
    In order to emphasize their demands, the strikers meet in the afternoon at the state parliament of Saxony-Anhalt for a demonstration. One of the speakers on stage said: “The business owners who are striking here today are doing an incredible amount for society, but humane treatment should not depend on that.” Human dignity must apply “always and everywhere, regardless of religion, origin, residence status or supposed benefit to society.”…”Report by Timo Krügener from August 26, 2026 in the taz online 
  • See a video of the rally on August 26, 2026 inReport from ZDFheute 
  • “Migra strike”: With closed shops against the AfD
    “Shortly before the state elections, 100 entrepreneurs with a migration background temporarily closed their businesses in Magdeburg. They want to show how important they are for the economy. But there is something else at stake, says Saaeid Saaeid from the Refugee Council.”  Interview by Sarah Zerback from August 26, 2026 in Dlf 
• Migrant strike in Magdeburg: “The determination in the community is great”
  “On Wednesday, 120 businesses in the capital of Saxony-Anhalt will remain closed. Saaeid Saaeid from the Refugee Council explains why and how.
  [taz: Mr. Saaeid, why are you on strike on Wednesday?]
  Saaeid Saaeid: We are on strike to send a clear signal against racism and exclusion before the state elections in Saxony-Anhalt. Demands for mass deportations unsettle many people with a history of flight and migration. Many are extremely afraid that their right to stay could be revoked, that they will lose their rights, that they will no longer be physically safe.
  [taz: Why did you choose the strike?]
  Saaeid: Because strike is a democratic means with direct effects. People notice this immediately in their everyday lives, for example when shopping when a store is closed. Everyone, whether neighbors, colleagues or customers, will notice when migrant people in Magdeburg stop working for a day. So far, 120 businesses have agreed to take part – from restaurants to retailers. By the way, ten percent of them are Germans who are taking part out of solidarity. (…)
  [taz: Do you get support from unions?]
  Saaeid: Yes, Verdi and DGB have signaled interest and we assume that they will take part, for example with a speech at our rally. (…)
  Saaeid: I can't speak for everyone, but the determination is great. We are currently experiencing how migrants motivate each other: If a business plans to close and the neighbor doesn't go along with it, then the community strongly encourages them to join in. Now everyone has to stick together. And we stand with everyone who has the courage to send a strong signal through a strike in these difficult times. (…)
  Saaeid: Yes, we are under enormous pressure. There are many right-wing media outlets that incite against us. We receive an incredible number of hate comments, threatening emails and even phone calls. It says that after the election we will lose our jobs or that we should go back to our home countries. Right-wing media announced that they would come to our rally to intimidate people. And verbal attacks can quickly turn into physical attacks. We experienced that after the attack on the Magdeburg Christmas market. But we will not let ourselves be defeated, we will stand together in solidarity.”Interview by Lotte Laloire from August 26, 2026 in the taz online – Saaeid Saaeid is a member of the Saxony-Anhalt Refugee Council and a member of the Advisory Board for Integration and Migration
• Migration policy: time for a general strike
  “Without immigrants, many things would not work in Germany. They should let the country feel that, says our columnist. (…)Before the many individuals leave Saxony-Anhalt or even Germany, the multicultural society should not simply be invoked. It's about democracy, it's about facts. It takes a shock of reality. Migrants and everyone affected by threats and violence should go on strike. It is time for a general strike: work should stop for an hour, an afternoon or a day, the shops should remain closed, the buses should not run, emergency services should be set up in the hospitals and doctors' offices, the vegetable shops on the corner should be closed. The country must feel that immigrants cannot be treated this way and that they cannot be talked about like this.”Comment by Alex Demirović from August 24th, 2026 in nd online 
• Saxony-Anhalt: Migrants strike against absolute AfD majority
  “Migrant traders in Saxony-Anhalt want to close their businesses on August 26th out of concern about the AfD's policies. Numerous other social alliances are forming before the election in Saxony-Anhalt against a possible AfD sole government.
  People with a migration history in Saxony-Anhalt feel threatened by the AfD's politics in the country. With a view to the state elections on September 6th, migrant associations are calling for a “strike against racism and exclusion” and a rally in front of the state parliament in Magdeburg on August 26th, as the Saxony-Anhalt Refugee Council announced on Monday in Magdeburg. The party is fomenting “racism by blaming migrants, refugees and people of different origins for all social problems,” the strike call says. This creates fear.
  Migrant business owners in Magdeburg and other cities therefore planned voluntary business closures from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. that day. “We are closing our doors today so that the doors to a free and democratic society do not close tomorrow,” it said. People want to live in a society “where origin does not determine who belongs.” Human dignity, equality and social belonging are non-negotiable…”Report from August 18, 2026 in Migazin also about further alliances before the elections
• #einTagOhneUns #migraStrike
• See also:
  • Together against racism! Call for demonstration August 29, 2026, 1 p.m. in Magdeburg
    “On August 29th We want to demonstrate together with you for solidarity instead of exclusion! A new state parliament will be elected in Saxony-Anhalt on September 6th. For many of us, the question is whether we can still live safely and independently here tomorrow. The election represents an immense threat for many - for people with a migration background, refugees, black people and people of color, Jews, queer people, people with disabilities and all those who have no place in the right-wing worldview. It means fear of exclusion, an increase in right-wing violence and a policy that restricts all of our basic rights. We are neighbors, colleagues at work, classmates and friends! The shift to the right has long since begun. It begins when people are pitted against each other…”Call for a demo at the Antiracist Network Saxony-Anhalt (multilingual)
  • DEMOCRACY FESTIVAL on September 5th, 2026 in Magdeburg
    Call to the alliancehttps://sachsenanhalt-weltoffen.de/ 

See last:Broad alliance of BIPoC & migrants with & without a German passport demands that we talk TO them and calls for the #EinTagOhneUns strike on February 14th, 2025

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