Protesters from the AfD party in Düsseldorf-Bilk met with resistance from the local citizens, who refused to yield to their demonstration.
On a chilly and rainy Thursday (20.2.), several hundred Düsseldorf residents gathered outside the Bürgerhaus Bilk to voice their opposition to the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party's presence in parliament and their scheduled podium discussion at the venue.
Organised by the alliance Düsseldorf stands up (DSSQ), the protest was a powerful visual representation of the protesters' commitment to democracy, diversity, and anti-fascism. Messages in large format on the wall, photographed by Dirk Schmidt, read "No space for hate and incitement of the AfD", "Düsseldorf says no to the AfD and yes to democracy and diversity", "Refugees are welcome here! Bring your families", "All together against fascism" and "Who votes for the AfD votes for racism".
The protesters made their stance on the AfD clear with slogans and whistles, while the messages on the wall served as a bold and clear expression of their opposition. The messages were a part of a larger effort by several organisations to call for the protest against the AfD.
The podium discussion, scheduled from 7 PM, was to be attended by AfD politicians Dr. Martin Vincentz, Kay Gottschalk, Tobias Ebenberger, Marco Vogt, and Andrea Kraljic. However, the police cordoned off the area in front of the entrance to the Bürgerhaus to prevent protesters from entering.
The "Runder Tisch gegen Rassismus und rechte Gewalt Nienburg/Weser" had also called for a protest action against the AfD on the same day, with a rally planned for the following day at 4 p.m. under the motto "Stand up for democracy - Against the normalization of the extreme right".
Despite the rainy weather, the protesters remained undeterred, standing firm in their belief that democracy and diversity should prevail. Registration was mandatory for the podium discussion, and spontaneous participants were not allowed.
Photographs of the protest and the messages on the wall captured the spirit and energy of the event, serving as a reminder of the importance of standing up against hate and incitement. The protest against the AfD on Thursday (20.2.) was a testament to the power of community and the resilience of those who believe in a society that values inclusivity and respect.
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