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🇩🇪 Germany /Elections & Politics

After Saxony-Anhalt vote, thousands rally in Cologne against far right

From Die Zeit · () German

Translated from German and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

Newswire From a news agency Outcome reported
  • Police estimated that about 9,000 people joined a demonstration in Cologne after the AfD’s election victory in Saxony-Anhalt.
  • The group Cologne Stands United called for resistance to far-right extremism and cooperation with the AfD.
  • Organizers said the protest defended democracy, the welfare state, constitutional values, diversity and human dignity.

About 9,000 people demonstrated in Cologne after the AfD’s election victory in Saxony-Anhalt, according to police. The rally was held under the slogan, “Stop far-right extremism in Saxony-Anhalt and everywhere, strengthen democracy!”

The alliance Cologne Stands United called the protest to give people space for initial reactions, opposition and analysis after the election. It said the demonstration responded to the possibility that far-right politicians could come to power in a German state for the first time.

Stop far-right extremism in Saxony-Anhalt and everywhere, strengthen democracy!

· Cologne Stands UnitedThe slogan used for the demonstration in Cologne.

Organizers called for a firm firewall against the AfD in state parliaments and civil society. They said the protest supported democracy, the welfare state, the values of Germany’s Basic Law, diversity and human dignity.

The alliance also opposed racism, antisemitism, hatred and violence. It rejected any normalization of, or cooperation with, the AfD.

Because in such a situation, when far-right extremists in Germany could come to power in a state for the first time, we democrats want and must raise our voices loudly and clearly.

· Cologne Stands UnitedThe alliance explained why it called the protest after the Saxony-Anhalt election.
About this summary

Originally published by Die Zeit in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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