Demonstration Halts Seat Block's Right Brake Functionality
Right-wing "Together for Germany" Initiative Holds Demonstration in Münster, attended by a Hundred Participants
Münster, North Rhine-Westphalia, was the site of a demonstration organized by the right-wing initiative "Together for Germany" today. However, the turnout was significantly lower than anticipated, with approximately a hundred attendees from across the country, some traveling by train. In contrast, thousands, according to the police, responded to calls for counter-demonstrations.
The demonstration, held under the slogan "for security, unity, and humanity," was originally scheduled to take place in every federal state. Despite the lower-than-expected attendance, participants were vocal in their chants, repeating slogans such as "Merz must go!" and "We are the people!" Some participants, however, preferred other slogans.
The press release distributed at the event hinted at anti-foreigner sentiment, referring to "knife attacks" in various cities. Many of the counter-demonstrators' signs and banners targeted the hostile attitude of such right-wing groups towards foreigners or the LGBTI+ community. Speeches were held on the square next to the Paul-Wulf sculpture, where the diverse crowd presented itself as anti-fascist, singing and chanting slogans like "alerta, alerta, antifascista!" and similar phrases.
Due to several sit-in blockades, the demonstration was forced to take an alternative route coordinated with the police. Some protesters were not content with this and formed their blockades on the streets where the right-wing demo was supposed to pass. The right-wing demo finally set off with a slight delay at around 15:15, using an alternative route, avoiding the Engelenschanze, where many counter-demonstrators had gathered. Despite the alternative route, loud protests against fascism could still be heard.
A significant police presence was observed at the event, confirmed by Alexandra Dorndorf, the police president of Münster, in her summary: "We were deployed with strong forces." She added that the participants of the "Together for Germany" assembly were significantly fewer than announced, while the counter-protest was well-represented. In total, the officers filed nine criminal charges, including suspicion of dangerous interference with traffic, resistance against law enforcement, insult, incitement of the people, and violation of the assembly law.
Traffic around the station and, consequently, a large part of bus traffic, was paralyzed for several hours due to the demonstration. Overall, the event in Münster reflected broader social tensions within Germany, including debates about immigration policies and national identity, as well as the diverse political landscape where different groups come together under a common banner.
- The event in Münster, involving the right-wing "Together for Germany" Initiative, coincided with discussions on war-and-conflicts, politics, and general-news, as the demonstration triggered debates about immigration policies and national identity.
- The atmosphere of the day in Münster also encompassed crime-and-justice framework, as the police reported nine criminal charges related to the demonstration, including resistance against law enforcement, insult, incitement of the people, and violation of the assembly law.
