Demo against AfD in Frankfurt: “We all have to be anti-fascists now”

bAt the big rally on Frankfurt's Römerberg, Mike Josef doesn't come on stage alone. The social democratic mayor of Frankfurt has two of his predecessors with him: the Christian democrat Petra Roth, who ruled Frankfurt from 1995 to 2012, and Andreas von Schoeler, mayor from 1991 to 1995, a social democrat like Josef. This is meant as a sign: the fight against right-wing extremism and the Alternative for Germany (AfD) requires a broad alliance, an alliance of all democratic forces. “We stand together as democrats against misanthropes, no matter where we come from, no matter what we believe,” says Josef.

Frankfurt hasn't seen such a large demonstration for a long time. Even before the rally began, the event was expanded to Paulsplatz because the Römerberg was already full. Shortly afterwards, Braubachstrasse, Bethmannstrasse, Berliner Strasse and Mainkai were closed to traffic and the subways no longer stopped at Römer. People gather everywhere, in the side streets around the Römer, on the banks of the Main. The police counted more than 35,000 demonstrators at the rally under the motto “Defend democracy – Frankfurt against the AfD and the shift to the right”, the organizers expected 50,000 participants.

Old and young, many families

The demonstration in Frankfurt is part of a nationwide wave of protests: Since the research network “Correctiv” reported on a meeting of right-wing extremists, AfD politicians and members of the Union of Values, at which plans for the mass deportation of foreigners and Germans with a migration background were discussed, it has been happening nationwide to large demonstrations against the AfD and right-wing networks. In Hesse there will also be protests this weekend in Kassel, Giessen, Limburg and Offenbach. More than 5,000 people came together in Mainz on Thursday.

The demonstrators in Frankfurt are a diverse mix: old and young, many families, middle-class and left-wing alternative. Many people have self-painted cardboard signs with them, but you hardly see party flags and association banners. “Voting for the AfD is so 1933,” one person wrote on his poster. On others you read “Racism is not an alternative”, “We are colorful” or “My heart beats for democracy”.

The mayor's speech that begins the rally is combative and emotional. Joseph speaks with a strong, loud voice and has a clear message. “We are not naive: the racists, the anti-Semites, the enemies of our democracy are organizing,” he says. But opposition to this is now forming. “We will defend ourselves,” says Josef. And: “The time for looking the other way is over, the threat is serious.”

The mayor welcomes the fact that more and more business representatives are opposing the AfD and warning against it. If the party's goals were implemented, then not only coexistence in the country would be threatened, but also prosperity, he says. After the secret meeting between the AfD and right-wing extremists, Josef also sees the judiciary as having a duty. Investigations would have to be initiated meetings. “I expect a robust democracy.”

The journalist Hadija Haruna-Oelker and the activist Eleonore Wiedenroth-Coulibaly, who was awarded the Tony Sender Prize in 2022, speak as representatives of the Black People in Germany Initiative. They point out that “marginalized people” in particular suffered from the pressure exerted by the AfD. “So many still don’t take the AfD seriously and thereby normalize it,” says Haruna-Oelker. More educational work needs to be done against the party's “self-trivialization,” including in the media. The author demands that there should be more reporting about “context, backgrounds, networks and strategies”.

Meron Mendel, the director of the Frankfurt Anne Frank educational center, warns on stage in front of the Römer: “History must not repeat itself.” But he is optimistic that this will succeed. “We have to get into people’s minds and hearts, in schools, at work, in social networks,” says the German-Israeli. The AfD was democratically elected, but “not a democratic party”. Mendel reports that he is often asked these days whether, given their success, his suitcases are already packed. “That is out of the question for me and my family, we stay here and fight for democracy.”

At the end there is dancing

Philipp Jacks, who leads the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB) in Frankfurt, calls the nationwide anti-AfD protests “the largest democracy movement since the founding of the republic.” He is thrilled at how many people came to the rally at the Römer. Nevertheless, says Jacks, this could only be “the beginning of the uprising of the decent people” and a quick return to “business as usual” would be fatal. He also hopes for the broadest possible alliance against the far-right. “We all have to be anti-fascists now,” demands the DGB leader. “We have to bring anti-fascism from the left corner into the middle of society.”

The rally on the Römerberg ends with a performance by the musician Stefan Hantel, known as “Shantel”. Before he sings his biggest hit, the piece “Disco Partizani”, he calls out to the crowd: “We laugh, we celebrate, we fight for our democracy.” Shortly afterwards there is dancing on the square, the mood becomes more and more exuberant.

Around the corner, on Berliner Straße, there is already a demonstration. Antifa groups call for a spontaneous rally, around 500 people join in, march, accompanied by the police, in the direction of Konstablerwache and on to the Alte Oper. Their slogan cannot be ignored: “The whole of Frankfurt hates the AfD.”