At an appointment at the town hall
16,000 Hamburg residents demonstrate against AfD chancellor candidate Alice Weidel
AfD candidate for chancellor Alice Weidel spoke in the Hamburg town hall. But an anti-right coalition brought more than 15,000 people onto the streets against Weidel.
At its peak, up to 16,000 people demonstrated in Hamburg against a visit by AfD chancellor candidate Alice Weidel. A police spokesman said the event remained peaceful apart from a few attempts to break through the barriers to the town hall. The Hamburg Alliance Against the Right called for the demonstration under the motto “All together against the AfD and Alice Weidel”.
“The federal chairwoman and candidate for chancellor of the ethnic AfD (wants to) spread hatred and incitement in Hamburg City Hall. We oppose this vigorously,” the call said. Young and old, including children with families, came to the opening rally at the train station.
Weidel spoke in the evening at an event organized by the AfD parliamentary group in front of around 1,000 guests in the large ballroom of the town hall. The police secured the perimeter around the civic headquarters. According to the information, around 1,500 officers were on duty.
Hamburg’s mayor: Alice Weidel not welcome
Weidel herself said in a video on X that she was looking forward to the performance in Hamburg. “I put on this heart sweater especially for Antifa,” she said, looking at a black sweater with red hearts that she wore in the car. “Make love, not war,” she added with a grin.
Tens of thousands at a large demonstration against the AfD in Essen
There were large protests even before the AfD party conference began. Demonstrators blocked the access routes to the Grugahalle. The event started late.
© Imago Images
Back
Further
Mayor Peter Tschentscher (SPD), Transport Senator Anjes Tjarks (Greens) and CDU state leader Dennis Thering had previously stated on Platform X that Weidel was not welcome in Hamburg. Tschentscher recalled the diversity and cosmopolitanism enshrined in the Hanseatic city’s constitution. “Because sometimes you have uninvited guests in the town hall,” he wrote in his post. “But our democracy is strong and resilient.” Thering posted: “I agree, Alice Weidel is not welcome in Hamburg!”
Note: This article has been updated with participant numbers.
DPA
tkr
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
