Darmstadt opposes planned Reichsbürger gathering

The city of Darmstadt has issued a formal resolution to oppose a planned gathering of the ‘Reichsbürger’ movement, scheduled for September 26, 2026, at Karolinenplatz. The event, described as the ‘Great Meeting of the 25+1 Federal States,’ serves as a networking and recruitment hub for the group, which denies the legitimacy of the Federal Republic of Germany and its democratic institutions.

Local authorities and a broad coalition of organizations, including political parties and civil society groups, have organized a counter-demonstration to protest the movement's anti-democratic, authoritarian, and often antisemitic ideologies. While the city emphasizes its commitment to freedom of assembly and speech, it has called for strict law enforcement should criminal boundaries be crossed. The city council stated that the movement's values are in fundamental contradiction to the principles of human dignity, freedom, and the rule of law upheld in Darmstadt.