German Interior Minister Warns Against Blockades at AfD Congress; Date Carries Nazi-Era Echoes

Thuringia's Interior Minister Georg Maier (SPD) has issued a strong warning against any attempts to blockade the upcoming Alternative for Germany (AfD) party congress scheduled for the first weekend of July in Erfurt. Maier stated that "prevention blockades are not covered by freedom of assembly" and assured that the police would enforce assembly rights. He appealed to those planning to protest against the AfD to do so peacefully, arguing that violence would only serve the AfD's agenda.

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A prevention blockade is not covered by freedom of assembly.

Maier has long advocated for examining the possibility of banning the AfD. Several civil society groups, including the SPD Thuringia, which Maier chairs, have called for protests against the party congress. An alliance known as "Zusammenstehen" (Standing Together), comprising trade unions and other organizations, is organizing a demonstration expected to draw 50,000 participants.

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All who want to exercise their fundamental right to protest should absolutely do so peacefully. Violence would only benefit the AfD.

Adding a layer of historical gravity, Jens-Christian Wagner, head of the Buchenwald and Mittelbau-Dora concentration camp memorials, pointed out the significance of July 4th. This date in 1926 marked the Nazi Party's (NSDAP) first national congress after its prohibition. Wagner expressed skepticism that the AfD's choice of this date and location was coincidental, noting that Thuringia served as a "springboard to power" for the Nazis across Germany.

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On July 4, 1926, the NSDAP held its first Reich Party Congress after the party ban in Weimar. I don't believe the AfD that this date and this location are a coincidence.

Despite the historical parallels and the call for protests, Wagner, like Maier, advocated for peaceful demonstrations rather than blockades aimed at preventing the congress. The alliance "Widersetzen" (Resist), supported by some members of The Left party, has announced plans to organize blockades to completely halt the AfD congress. Some Left party Bundestag members intend to participate in these blockades, while Bodo Ramelow, Vice-President of the Bundestag and a member of The Left, echoed Maier's call for peaceful protest, emphasizing the importance of actively living democratic values.

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July 4th is the day when democrats link arms and make it clear together: We can only live democracy, freedom, and the rule of law if we also bring them to life.