Federal Party Conference - Tens of thousands at large demonstration against AfD in Essen
At the large demonstration against the AfD and their federal party conference in Essen, more than 50,000 people are participating according to the organizers' statements. The demonstrators gathered in front of the Grugahalle, where the conference is taking place. The alliance "Together Loud" has called for this large demonstration.
A total of 70,000 people were expected to demonstrate against the AfD party conference in Essen, according to the group "Resist" - on Friday evening, 10,000 people had already demonstrated, and around 7,000 in the early morning on Saturday. Several thousand more demonstrators were expected to gather for a rally in front of the Grugahalle in the afternoon.
Party conference in Essen: "AfD is not welcome here"
"More people are demonstrating loudly against the AfD this weekend than the party has members," explained Linda Kastrup, spokesperson for "Together Loud." "The AfD is quite clear that they are not welcome here. Together, we stand for an open and democratic society."
The AfD party conference began with a half-hour delay at 10:30 am. According to a count by the party on site, 555 of the 600 delegates were in the hall by 11:30 am.
"What is happening in front of this hall has nothing to do with political decision-making," said Weidel. "We have the right - just like all other political parties - to hold an orderly party conference." The regional leader of the AfD in North Rhine-Westphalia, Martin Vincentz, said: "We can only hold a party conference under thousands of police officers. That is a right that is being denied to us."
The protestors outside the Grugahalle, where the AfD's federal party conference is taking place, are demonstrating their strong opposition to the party's views, with Linda Kastrup stating, "More people are demonstrating loudly against the AfD this weekend than the party has members." The variety of food stalls set up for the demonstrators further emphasizes the diverse crowd, as people gather to express their disdain for the AfD's policies.
