Massive Demonstration in Hamburg Against Far Right Ends Early Due to Safety Concerns
Tens of thousands of people gathered in Hamburg on Friday for a massive demonstration against the far right. The protest, however, was cut short due to safety concerns caused by the overwhelming number of participants. This event marked the largest demonstration in a series of protests that have been growing over the past week. The protests were sparked by a report that extremists had recently met to discuss the deportation of millions of immigrants, including those with German citizenship.
According to media outlet Correctiv, the alleged far-right meeting took place in November and was attended by figures from the extremist Identitarian Movement and the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. Austrian citizen Martin Sellner, a prominent member of the Identitarian Movement, presented his vision for deportations, which he called “remigration.” The revelations from this meeting have ignited public outrage and led to an upsurge in demonstrations across Germany.
Some of these demonstrations, including one in Cologne on Tuesday, drew far more participants than initially expected. In Hamburg, police estimated that around 50,000 people gathered on a lakeside promenade, while organizers claimed the figure to be closer to 80,000. Many individuals were unable to enter the venue due to the overwhelming crowd.
Kazim Abaci, representing Unternehmer ohne Grenzen (Businesspeople without Borders), one of the organizing groups, expressed concerns about safety and announced the early end of the demonstration. The fire service was unable to navigate through the massive crowd, further exacerbating the safety issues. Despite the premature conclusion, the message to AfD and its right-wing networks was clear: “We are the majority, and we are strong because we are united and determined not to let our country and democracy be destroyed for a second time after 1945,” stated Hamburg Mayor Peter Tschentscher.
AfD has attempted to distance itself from the extremist meeting, asserting that it had no organizational or financial ties to the event. The party claims that it is not responsible for the discussions that took place and that members who attended did so in a personal capacity. However, one of AfD’s co-leaders has severed ties with an advisor who was present at the meeting. The party has also criticized the reporting surrounding the event.
National polls currently place AfD in second position, trailing behind the main center-right opposition bloc and surpassing the parties in the unpopular government. As the protests against the far right continue to gain momentum, more demonstrations are planned in German cities throughout the weekend.
The massive turnout and premature end of the demonstration in Hamburg highlight the growing concern among Germans regarding the rise of far-right extremism. The public’s determination to protect their country and democracy from any potential threats is evident in their united front against these ideologies. As tensions escalate, it remains to be seen how the political landscape in Germany will be affected and whether these protests will lead to any significant changes in policy or public opinion.
