Protests against right-wing extremist march in Chemnitz

Several hundred people demonstrated in Chemnitz on Saturday under the slogan "All together against fascism" against a march by the small right-wing extremist party Free Saxony. Around 550 people took part in the protest, according to the police. The organizers of the counter-demonstration "Chemnitz Nazifrei" spoke of 800 people. According to the police, around 400 people took part in the Free Saxony march.

In the meantime, according to the police, around 20 people attempted to block the right-wing extremists' action with a sit-in. According to the police, the blockade was broken up again shortly afterwards. "Chemnitz Nazifrei" criticized the action in a statement: "Although these people wanted to leave the blockade voluntarily, they were prevented from doing so by the police." Some people were injured by the police. The officers did not provide any information on this.

The organizers also criticized the fact that the police arrested many participants - mainly young people - after the final rally on the market and reported them for alleged violations of the assembly law. According to the police, charges were filed against seven participants in the counter-demonstration because they had covered their faces without permission.

In addition, three participants in a pre-registered Free Saxony motorcade were banned from continuing their journey due to unauthorized modifications to vehicles - they were reportedly charged. According to the police, the motorcade ended in front of the city.

The counter-demonstration started at Moritzhof and was supported by the SPD and Die Linke parties, the "Hand in Hand" cultural alliance, the German Trade Union Confederation and the "Fridays for Future" climate group, among others.

In the early hours of Saturday evening, the police became aware of seven people aged between 15 and 59 who were allegedly shouting anti-constitutional and anti-Semitic slogans. The officers took their personal details and filed charges for the use of signs of unconstitutional organizations in conjunction with incitement to hatred. It was initially unclear whether the people were involved in the Free Saxony march.