German civil society holds demonstrations against right-wing extremism

Civil society groups in Germany are organizing demonstrations to protest right-wing extremism and support democratic values.

In Cologne, the alliance ‘Köln stellt sich quer’ has called for a rally and demonstration at Heumarkt on September 8, 2026. Titled ‘Stop right-wing extremism in Saxony-Anhalt and everywhere’, the event follows recent election results in Saxony-Anhalt. Organizers are calling for a ‘stable firewall’ against the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party within both parliaments and civil society, aiming to protect diversity, human dignity, and the social state.

In Karlsruhe, the ‘Herz statt Hetze’ (Heart instead of Hate) demonstration took place on September 5, 2026, at Schlossplatz. Organized by the ‘bunt&laut!’ initiative and supported by networks such as ‘Karlsruhe gegen Rechts’, the event featured participants forming a large human heart for aerial photography. The demonstration aimed to show solidarity with civil society efforts in eastern Germany, specifically referencing democratic engagement in Halle.