Wednesday 4, October
Right-wing demonstration for German Unity Day draws 5,000
Yesterday marked 33 years since the official reunification of East and West Germany, but in the centre of Berlin things were not particularly harmonious.
Around 5,000 right-wingers and supporters of the AfD gathered in Lustgarten on Museum Island for a protest which was ostensibly in favour of “Transparent Political Dialogue”, but which, according to reporting in the Taz, saw participants openly declare their hostility towards the reunified Germany, chanting “East East East Germany”. Their main topics of complaint are well-known, with various signs carried by protesters calling for peace in Ukraine, lower energy pricers and the removal of the few remaining corona safety measures.
There was a minimal police presence for the event and few disturbances, although a police spokesperson did confirm that a number of arguments broke out between the demonstrators and passers-by. Around 50 individuals from the left wing group “Omas gegen Rechts” or “grannies against the right” were maintaining a counter-protest nearby.