Protests against the far right after a secret meeting with neo-Nazis

After knowing A A secret far-right meetingWhere party members Alternative for Germany (AFD) They came together Neo-NazisTo plan the expulsion of millions of asylum seekers and German citizens of foreign origin, tens of thousands of people demonstrated on Friday in several cities in Germany. Germany. In addition, other protests are scheduled over the weekend.

in a city Hamburg, More than 30,000 people Local police stated that they participated against right-wing extremism and neo-Nazi networks, in the middle of winter, with snowfall and temperatures below zero. There were also marches with slogans such as “Never again now” and “Let's defend democracy” in other cities, according to the German news agency DPA.

These protests were the result of what was revealed by independent media Correctivewho reported on the far-right meeting in November, which was attended by members of the AfD and the CSU. Christian Democratic Union (CDU).

Details of the secret meeting

Correctiv revealed that several senior members of the French Development Agency met at this place Back damNear Berlin, with far-right figures, incl Martin SellnerHe is a long-time head of Austria's far-right Identity Movement, which staunchly opposes Muslim immigrants.

One of the topics discussed was planning large-scale deportations of immigrants from Germany, and Sellner identified three sets of goals: Asylum seekers, foreigners with the right of residence and “non-integrated citizens”.

Moreover, it raised the concept of “Re-immigration“, a term often used by right-wing extremists to refer to people of foreign origin leaving the country, generally against their will.

Protests against the extreme right

The protests were, in many cases, supported by The Social Democratic Party (SPD), Chancellor Olaf Scholz, the Green Party, the Left Party, churches and unions, as well as cultural institutions and football clubs..

Schulz used the X platform (formerly Twitter) to thank the protesters who stood up.”Against racism and hate speech and for our liberal democracy“.

“This gives us courage and shows that we Democrats are many, much more than those who want division,” the Social Democratic Party politician wrote.

Marches will continue in several federal statesWith the participation of regional authorities. In Hamburg, he was the mayor of the city Peter Chencheras well as the Prime Minister of Thuringia, Bodo RameloWho participated in a protest in the city of Gana.

Furthermore, the Prime Minister of Lower Saxony is expected to be in Hanover on Saturday. Stefan WeilOn Sunday, the mayor of this city-state will march in Bremen, Andreas Poffensholt.

Former German President Christian Wolf And Yasmine Fahmyowner German Trade Union Confederation (DGB)will also take part in the mobilization in Hannover, where organizers expect more than 10,000 participants tomorrow.

In Karlsruhe, southwest Germany, a demonstration will take place in front of the headquarters of the Constitutional Court next Saturday, while… in Between 10,000 and 20,000 demonstrators are also expected to participate in Munich Sunday afternoon.

Other major demonstrations will be held in Kiel, Bielefeld, Braunschweig, Dortmund, Erfurt and Heidelberg.

There are scheduled to be protests on Sunday in the capital, Berlin and Dresden. A demonstration was announced on Saturday on the island of Sylt, in the far north-east of the country. In addition, there are already concentrations planned after the weekend.

Finally, on February 3, a human chain was called in Berlin around the Reichstag building, the seat of the German Parliament, as a symbol of the barrier against the far right.