Many of the chants and posters were specifically directed against the AfD and its representatives. Among the participants were older people as well as families with children, but also fans of Hertha BSC, for example. Given the large number of people on site, emergency services released all additional areas planned in the area so that the crowd could spread out. According to an authority spokesman, 700 police officers were on duty.
Alliance “Hand in Hand” with more than 1,800 organizers
Behind The campaign is based on an alliance called “Hand in Hand” with more than 1,800 organizations. These include, among others, social and environmental associations, trade unions, migrant initiatives, human rights organizations and church institutions. “Civil society is giving the answer that politically responsible people have owed us so far. Right-wing demands, right-wing narratives and right-wing politics must be opposed decisively,” said Tareq Alaows, refugee policy spokesman for Pro Asyl and co-initiator, according to a statement. “All of us who are taking to the streets together today want to avert threats to our democracy,” said Caritas President Eva Maria Welskop-Defaa on the sidelines of the rally. Caritas is also one of the co-initiators of the rally.
Political parties are not among the organizers, although many politicians took part in the rally. Federal Minister for Family Affairs Lisa Paus (Greens), who was also among the participants, explained: “Even where it takes real courage to take to the streets against enemies of democracy, more people have stood up in the past few weeks than ever before – in Chemnitz, Jena or Stralsund, and of course here in Berlin today.”