Tens of thousands demonstrate against AfD youth: police speak of violence!

Tens of thousands demonstrate against AfD youth: police speak of violence!

Over the weekend, a huge picture of the clash between demonstrators and the police emerged in Giessen. Tens of thousands took to the streets against the founding of the new AfD youth organization “Generation Germany”. Loud Catapult MV The protesters moved under the banner of the Germany-wide “resist” action alliance and described the mobilization as the largest anti-fascist demonstration in the history of the Federal Republic.

The AfD's new youth organization, which was founded on November 29, 2025 in the Giessen exhibition hall, relies on membership, which is a prerequisite for participation. This new foundation follows the dissolution of the predecessor organization Junge Alternative in January 2023. In particular, the first indications of police violence and repression during the protests caused great excitement among the public.

A climate of fear?

The critical voices are loud: many accuse politicians and the police of having fomented a “climate of fear”. An accusation that is made particularly sharply by the other side. The police reported at least 36 injured demonstrators, while at least ten police officers in their own ranks were slightly injured. The violence that prevailed in Gießen on Saturday could not be overlooked - police chief and Interior Minister Roman Poseck spoke of over 50 injured officers who were injured by punches, kicks and firecrackers, among other things ZDF Today reported.

The police carried out a total of 192 identity checks and arrested three people. The protests were characterized by blockades set up by demonstrators to block access to the exhibition hall. Five of these blockades were violently broken up by police using pepper spray and water cannons. The action alliance heavily criticized this police operation and accused the officers of using excessive force against the demonstrators.

The role of Antifa and left-wing extremist movements

Some of the protesters were classified as violent. The role of left-wing extremist groups must also be considered in this context. The term “Antifa” stands for “Antifascist Action” and is often associated with riots. Antifascism as a principle is controversial; For some it is a principle of democracy, for others it is a violence-oriented, left-wing extremist fighting concept. In recent years there have been repeated violent clashes in the context of Antifa actions, which can be understood not only as a political statement, but also as deliberate intimidation of people and groups that are perceived as “fascist”. Constitutional Protection.de is explained.

The aggressive mood was clearly noticeable in Giessen when around 1,000 demonstrators were classified as violent. The violent action and the escalation of the situation raise the question of how far a democratic debate about different political views can go and where the limits of resistance lie.

The Hessian Interior Minister Roman Poseck ultimately described the police operation as a success in preventing major escalations. But whether this view can appease the injured demonstrators and the strong criticism of the authorities' repressive approach remains to be seen. The discourse about violence at political demonstrations, regardless of the side viewed, shows that there are still many challenges to be overcome in Germany.