Cologne: City in Germany - Thousands gather at rally for a more democratic Europe.
Many individuals from different ages gathered a week prior to the European elections for a protest. The event took place on Saturday at 3:00 PM at the Deutzer Werft in Cologne, where groups "Arsch huh" and "Cologne stands in the way" invited people to attend. This gathering was attended by popular artists and speakers such as Hohner, Paveier, Wilfried Schmickler, and the German Trade Union Confederation's chairwoman, Yasmin Fahimi. Based on police reports, 10,000 participants registered for the demonstration.
"According to Article 1 of the Basic Law, human dignity is inviolable," Fahimi remarked during her speech. "We also want to maintain the absolute diversity in this country." The demonstration was reportedly nonviolent, as confirmed by a dpa photographer's observations. A variety of posters displayed messages demanding a ban on the AfD. The organizers emphasized the importance of a strong and democratic Europe, urging a high voter turnout for those who support democratic parties. They warned that the rise of right-wing and right-populist parties significantly threatens political and social fundamental human rights in Europe.
