After the state elections in Saxony-Anhalt: Tens of thousands demonstrate against the right-wing extremist AfD

On Tuesday, more than 11,000 people protested in five cities against the right-wing extremist AfD and for democracy. The reason was the election success of the neo-Nazis in Saxony-Anhalt. The largest rally took place in Cologne, where at least 10,000 people gathered under the motto “Stop right-wing extremism in Saxony-Anhalt and everywhere – strengthen democracy!” took to the streets. Organizers even spoke of 15,000 participants. At four other demos nationwide, a total of 1,000 people were on the streets.

The taz has been documenting the nationwide demonstrations since Tuesday. The team analyzes articles from regional newspapers, police reports, meeting registrations and - very importantly - tips from readers that are sent to demo clues@taz.de. Since we began collecting data, we have already received several dozen tips.

At least 35,000 people have demonstrated against the right-wing extremist AfD at 45 events since the election in Saxony-Anhalt on Sunday. 66 demonstrators gathered at a bicycle demonstration in Schwerin. The smallest demonstration recorded by the taz was on Monday in Ludwigslust with 30 people. In Dresden on Monday evening, hundreds of demonstrators sat down in small circles to discuss their reactions to the election results.

During a demonstration in Halle on Monday, unknown people shot at the participants with a compressed air weapon from a residential building and injured a 25-year-old. The police secured evidence and checked several apartment buildings, but initially found no evidence of the shooter. State security is investigating. The injured man received medical attention on site and did not need to be hospitalized.

More than 30 further demonstrations have been announced for the coming days, half of them at the weekend. Among other things, so-called test demos are taking place across the country calling for a ban on the right-wing extremist AfD.

In recent years there have been several large waves of demonstrations for democracy and against right-wing extremism, including after revelations about meetings between AfD politicians and other neo-Nazis at which racist deportation plans were discussed.