Protest in Luckenwalde: Citizens defend themselves against AfD office opening!

Protest in Luckenwalde: Citizens defend themselves against AfD office opening!

Yesterday, October 24, 2025, around 100 people protested in Luckenwalde against the opening of Bundestag member Steffen Kotré's AfD constituency office. The call for this protest came from the “Solidarical Perspective Teltow-Fläming” alliance, which, given the explosive political situation in Germany, represents a clear indication of the defense of democratic values. Kotré welcomed around 40 to 50 guests at Breite Straße 27 for the office opening, while the protesters raised their voices around 70 meters away in front of the Volksbühne.

The demonstrators gathered at 5:45 p.m. to express their displeasure. Banners with slogans such as “Solidarity instead of right-wing agitation” and “Brown garbage belongs in the toilet, not in the office” were waved while the loud music of left-wing German rap echoed across the square. A chant with the words “Screw AfD” at the beginning of the meeting also sent a clear signal of rejection of the party.

Police measures and political provocations

In order to separate the demonstration and the office opening, the police were on site with several patrol cars. The gathering was permitted until 9 p.m. while pedestrians were able to pass through the area. During the opening, Kotré spoke of a “fundamental system change” and emphasized that his office wanted to continue Birgit Bessin’s previous use of the premises.

At the same time, there were provocative scenes when a man with a microphone and a companion with a camera approached the protesters, which prompted the police to intervene. In her speech, Romy Powils, the integration officer, spoke about the increasing racism in society and expressed the urgency of counteracting it. Tom Ritter from the Greens had already submitted a complaint to the building inspectorate on October 23 about fire safety issues in the AfD office.

Broad social participation and political responsibility

The protests against the AfD are not only a sign of rejection, but also a call to confront the extreme positions presented in society. According to extremism researcher Julia Ebner, such resistance shows that part of society is actively resisting the spread of right-wing extremist ideologies. In view of the radicalization and the observation of the AfD by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution in several federal states, attention in this area is needed more than ever.

In this context, Ebner notes that such protests can raise awareness of the dangers of the AfD. However, she also warns: Political polarization could increase during the super election year of 2024, accompanied by an increase in misinformation and a strategy through which the AfD portrays itself as a victim, similar to what is happening in other countries through politicians such as Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin.

In the end, the question remains how intensively society can participate in such protests and influence them through personal conversations. It is hoped that the multiplier effect of these demonstrations could spark a broader movement against racism and for a democratic society and even bring about a change in Germany's polarizing political climate.

So all that remains to be said is: engagement in civil society is required - because democracy does not protect itself.

You can find out more about the protests and their background here maz-online.de and spiegel.de read up. Further details about radicalization and the role of the AfD can also be found at tagesschau.de.