Cologne in turmoil: Protest against AfD event in schools!

Cologne in turmoil: Protest against AfD event in schools!

In Cologne, numerous initiatives and citizens call for the upcoming general meeting of Cologne AfD . On Saturday, more than 1000 participants in two rallies are expected to be expected from 9 a.m. The Cologne police are preparing for the meetings with emergency services from the riot police to avoid conflicts and to ensure the smooth process.

The AfD plans to hold a larger event on May 17th in the Erich Gutenberg vocational college in Cologne-Mülheim. Despite the party's announcement to carry out this event to prepare the local elections on September 14th, there are numerous votes that require a cancellation. In particular, the "Cologne" (KSSQ) initiative (KSSQ) asked the Mayor Henriette Reker in a letter to no longer allow such events in urban areas.

the political context

This concern is supported by 14 Cologne initiatives that speak against the AfD. They rely on the current assessment of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, which the AfD has classified as "secured right -wing extremist". This assessment also plays a role in reviewing the admission of party events in schools, according to the mayor. Nevertheless, a survey among the city council factions showed that there is no clear consensus to Reker's proposal for renting urban areas on parties.

Eva Caspers from the left describes party events in schools as "sensible", while other parliamentary group leader like Manfred Richter from the Greens and the FDP parliamentary group leader Volker Görzel argue. Görzel beyond the need not to treat the AfD separately, even if he does not support Reker's proposal. In return, Cologne AfD chairman Christer Cremer requested alternative offers if schools are to be blocked for party events.

parents and activist groups demand changes

The discussion also affects parents who are actively involved and demand a ban on the AfD in public institutions. In particular, the view of Silvia Rick, who has two children, in whose schools AfD events have already taken place, illustrates the fears of the parents. "We want clear measures from the city," she says in an open letter to the mayor. Their claim is supported by the fact that the vocational college has already taken a position with rainbow flags and stickers.

The city of Cologne also published a Extremism clause that prohibits extremist, racist and anti-Semitic groups to rent. However, the Cologne AfD argues that its events do not fall below this clause, in view of the legal framework that grant the parties a right to equality, as is emphasized by Cologne's constitutional professor Markus Ogorek.

The city of Cologne has not yet decided to take a final approach to the renting of urban premises. However, the current situation could influence a re -assessment of the AfD by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, which ultimately concerns the allocation of rooms to the party. The discussion about this topic remains tense and is critically observed from different sides.