Darmstadt: Counter-protesters outnumber Reichsbürger participants

In Darmstadt, Germany, a gathering of the ‘Reichsbürger’ movement was met by a significantly larger counter-demonstration. According to police estimates, approximately 200 people attended the Reichsbürger event, while roughly 800 people participated in the counter-protest organized by the Darmstadt Bündnis gegen Rechts under the motto ‘The Emperor has abdicated, democracy lives!’

The Reichsbürger, who do not recognize the legitimacy of the Federal Republic of Germany or its legal system, attempted to hold a procession through the city center. However, the march was briefly interrupted when a group of protesters blocked the route. After police requests to clear the path went unheeded, organizers and city officials decided to divert the procession to a shorter route back to Karolinenplatz.

While some pyrotechnics were ignited during the counter-protest, police reported that no major riots occurred and the situation remained largely peaceful. The counter-demonstrators emphasized values of diversity and democracy in their speeches.