Despite rainy weather, thousands protested against a speech by Thuringian AfD leader Björn Höcke at Dortmund City Hall on Sunday. Police estimated over 3,000 participants at the counter-demonstrations, significantly more than the organizers anticipated. The city’s prior legal attempt to ban the event was unsuccessful.
Protests Exceed Expectations
Several thousand people gathered to protest Höcke’s appearance as a guest speaker at the AfD faction’s New Year’s reception. Organizers had initially expected only 600 people to gather on Friedensplatz in front of City Hall.
Dortmund’s Mayor Alexander Kalouti (CDU) attempted to prohibit the speech, but failed in an expedited proceeding before the Gelsenkirchen Administrative Court. The city subsequently filed an appeal with the Higher Administrative Court in Münster on Saturday morning, but the court did not address the case over the weekend.
Kalouti himself participated in the counter-demonstrations, stating to “Ruhr-Nachrichten” that he did not seek Höcke in his City Hall and therefore would be present at the protest. A city spokesperson emphasized that Dortmund “left nothing untried legally to prevent this event.”
Controversial Figure and Symbolic Locations
The AfD city council group invited 280 guests to their New Year’s reception, where Höcke was scheduled to speak on local political issues. Höcke is a controversial figure, and the AfD is classified as right-wing extremist and under observation by the state office for the protection of the constitution in Thuringia.
Prior to the Dortmund event, Höcke visited the Externsteine in the Teutoburg Forest with several AfD politicians from North Rhine-Westphalia. The meeting was originally planned for the nearby Hermannsdenkmal, where approximately 350 counter-demonstrators had assembled.
Both the Hermannsdenkmal and the Externsteine were imbued with propagandistic meaning during the National Socialist era and remain significant sites for right-wing extremist circles today. The Lippe regional association, which operates the two destinations, has been fighting against their appropriation by extremists for years.
Further Protests Planned
Another demonstration with potentially thousands of participants is planned for today in Düsseldorf, also protesting Höcke’s appearance. Organizers initially registered around 5,000 participants with the police, but expect a larger turnout. A protest vehicle created by Düsseldorf artist Jacques Tilly is also expected to be present at the demonstration.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the city of Dortmund’s response to the planned speech?
Dortmund’s Mayor Alexander Kalouti attempted to ban the speech, but was unsuccessful in court. The city then appealed the decision, but the higher court did not address the case over the weekend.
How many people protested against Höcke’s appearance in Dortmund?
Police estimated that over 3,000 people participated in the counter-demonstrations, exceeding the organizers’ expectations of 600 participants.
Where else did Höcke appear before the Dortmund event?
Höcke visited the Externsteine in the Teutoburg Forest with several AfD politicians from North Rhine-Westphalia. The meeting was originally planned for the nearby Hermannsdenkmal.
As protests continue, what impact will these demonstrations have on the AfD’s political strategy and public perception?
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