AfD party conference - Creative protest: Demonstrations against AfD party conference begin
One day before the controversial AfD-Federal Party Congress in Essen, the counter-demonstrators took up positions. The police assembled strong forces. In the course of the weekend, around 80,000 demonstrators are expected, said North Rhine-Westphalia's Interior Minister Herbert Reul (CDU) to the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland (RND). There could even be 100,000, added a ministry spokesperson on Friday.
The police are reportedly focusing on around 1000 left-extremist agitators from all over Germany and abroad, who are expected in Essen. The scene has announced that they intend to prevent the party congress from taking place with violent actions if possible. The police showed a significant presence at central locations in the city on Friday.
The larger protest actions began on Friday evening with a rave demo with several thousand people. Under the motto "Bass against Hate," well-known DJs performed and traveled in a demo train from the main station to the Grugahalle, where the AfD meets on Saturday and Sunday. According to the organizer, between 4000 and 5000 people followed the train. The police reported a peaceful course of events after 20:00. The police will only comment on the participant numbers after the closing rally.
The security measures had already partially paralyzed the popular shopping and entertainment district Rüttenscheid on Friday. Residents could only reach their homes on foot and after an identity check. Car drivers had to detour around the Grugahalle. The operation of buses and streetcars was discontinued on several lines. A police helicopter circled over the city. The popular Grugapark with the large outdoor pool was also closed due to security reasons.
"Unintentionally closed" was written on a sign in a gift shop on the usually lively Rüttenscheider Street. "If the customers don't come to us, I can just as well close the shop," said a visibly annoyed shopkeeper. At some shop windows, plywood had been nailed up out of fear of disturbances.
Up to 4000 activists camped at the "Camp against Racism"
A few kilometers outside the city on a free field along the Rhur, a tent camp for demonstrators filled up on Friday. The "Camp against Racism" was originally planned at a central location, but was banned there by the police - to the great annoyance of the organizers. Now, the up to 4000 activists have to pitch their tents on a meadow at the city limits to Bochum.
The actions on Friday are the prelude to a whole series of rallies, demonstrations, and assemblies that will accompany the two-day AfD Federal Party Congress in the Essen Grugahalle on Saturday and Sunday. The peak of the protests is expected on Saturday. At least 45,000 demonstrators are expected at a central rally organized by the city.
The police are deploying several thousand officers. Conflict potential exists particularly when left-wing activists fulfill their announcement and try to block the arrival of around 600 delegates to the party conference. An initiative has announced sit-in protests at the Grugahalle for the early Saturday morning. The police warned demonstrators explicitly against such actions. "Preventive blockades, which aim to disrupt or prevent the AfD federal party conference, are a criminal offense," the police emphasized.
In the left-wing scene, there have been training sessions in advance, in which, for example, blockade actions were practiced, said Reul to RND. "And not only understanding but also the punishment for counter-protests starts there."
Reul: Ensuring the party conference "very robustly"
Reul appealed for understanding for the police deployment. "The equal opportunities of all political parties are a fundamental element of our liberal-democratic basic order." Therefore, the police will ensure an unobstructed course of the party conference and, if necessary, "very robustly" provide protection for it.
The AfD will choose a new board at the party conference on Saturday and Sunday. The city of Essen had been looking for ways to prevent the AfD party conference for months - but ultimately failed in court.
City Essen to Demo Weekend Common Loud Resistance Police News Ticker
- Despite the upcoming AfD-Federal Party Conference on Saturday and Sunday in Essen, counter-demonstrators had already taken positions the day before.
- Interior Minister Herbert Reul (CDU) of North Rhine-Westphalia forecasted around 80,000 demonstrators for the weekend, with potentially 100,000 according to a ministry spokesperson.
- The police were preparatory, focusing on approximately 1000 left-extremist agitators, with many coming from Germany and abroad.
- On Friday evening, the larger protest actions started with a rave demo, themed "Bass against Hate," which gathered several thousand people in Essen.
- Up to 4000 activists also camped at the "Camp against Racism," set up a few kilometers outside the city due to the police's ban on a central location.
- Over the weekend, various demonstrations, rallies, and assemblies were ongoing in Essen, with the peak of protests anticipated on Saturday.
- Police warned demonstrators against sit-in protests at the Grugahalle for the early Saturday morning, citing it as a criminal offense to disrupt or prevent the party conference.
