Two years after right-wing politicians met in Potsdam on migration policy, an alliance of several organizations called for a demonstration in the capital of the state of Brandenburg. Potsdam Mayor Noosha Aubel (independent) wants to speak at an anti-right rally on Tuesday (17:30) at Alter Markt, as announced by Green Youth. About 1,000 people are expected to attend the meeting.
“A year ago we remembered that meeting and that fascism must never return. Unfortunately, little has happened since then. And that is why we are back on the streets this year,” said a call for demonstrations on social media. The alliance of organizations also wants to draw attention to the fact that “firewalls” are being used. AfD increasingly divided, said a spokesperson for Green Youth Brandenburg.
Potsdam Mayor Aubel, who became the new chairman of “Potsdam! Show Her Colors,” according to a statement on Friday, said that the city’s people stood together for human dignity and against misanthropy – especially at a time when democracy is under attack by “hate, agitation and division.”
Brandenburg Prime Minister Dietmar Woidke (SPD), who was in general meeting According to the State Chancellor, he was invited to Potsdam and had to cancel for scheduling reasons.
Dispute over the “firewall”
There are other political disputes over how to deal with the AfD and the so-called firewall. AfD is coming in Brandenburg classified as a right-wing extremist by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution.
The 2023 Potsdam meeting sparked mass demonstrations
On 25 November 2023, AfD politicians as well as members of the CDU and Values Union met with the former head of the far-right extremist Identitarian movement in Austria, Martin Sellner. The meeting in Potsdam made headlines, in part because of the term “remigration” used by Sellner. Non-profit research platform Correctiv revealed this in January 2024.
This was followed by mass protests in Germany. Hundreds of thousands of people demonstrated against racism and exclusion. When right-wing extremists use the term “remigration,” they usually mean that large numbers of foreigners have to leave the country – even under duress.
© dpa-infocom, dpa:251122-930-325424/1
