Demonstrations: Protests against the AfD party conference in Riesa – large-scale police operation

Thousands of people demonstrated in Riesa, Saxony, against the AfD’s federal party conference. The protesters arrived early in the morning on buses and trains and blocked important access roads. The mood was heated at times, with demonstrators and police confronting each other in many places. According to police, six officers were slightly injured.

The party conference could not begin at 10 a.m. as planned, but only two hours late. According to their own statements, various members of the Federal Executive Board arrived early on buses under police escort without any problems. Other AfD representatives were stuck in traffic due to blockades. According to party circles, the car of party leader Alice Weidel was also stopped by demonstrators. In Riesa, around 600 delegates want to approve the AfD election program and officially name Weidel as candidate for chancellor.

At times the situation was tense. The police cleared sit-ins in the morning – for example at an intersection leading to the entrance to the B169. According to a dpa reporter, pepper spray was also used to drive out surrounded police cars. Demonstrators had unscrewed the tire valves of several police cars and police cars were daubed with anti-police slogans. The road was still closed at midday. In some places pyrotechnics flew.

Tense situation in the morning hours

In the meantime, things were “dynamic” in the city, said a police spokesman, “especially in the darker morning hours.” Some demonstrators had to be pushed back, and there were occasional attempts to break through barriers. The situation relaxed in the morning. Overall, the police said it remained calm.

By midday, the square in front of the AfD party conference hall in Riesa was filled for a central counter-rally. In sub-zero temperatures and winter weather, chants were heard again and again and live music was played on a stage. Banners and signs can be seen on the square in front of the WT Energiesysteme Arena.

According to the organizers, people from around 70 cities came to the Elbe city in more than 100 buses. The organizers spoke of 12,000 demonstrators, the police assumed there were around 10,000 throughout the city. The police are on site with a large contingent and are supported by emergency services from several federal states.

A spokeswoman for the organizers, Jana Henker, criticized: “The fact that the police are now acting so repressively against registered demonstrations is unacceptable. These gatherings are severely restricted in their freedom of assembly and access for demonstrators is blocked.”

A police spokesman said: “We must guarantee the right to freedom of assembly and at the same time the right to hold the event.”