On Saturday October 17th the right-wing party AfD mobilized to Freilassing for a demonstration against new arrivals of refugees. 450 known neonazis, racists and “Besorgte Bürger” [roughly: worried citizens] rallied through the small village. Amongst them: Leaders of the “Freies Netz Süd” and “Kameradschaft Berchtesgadenerland” – known from neonazi rallies in Munich and the Charlemagne memorial in Bad Reichenhall. Also amongst the demonstrators: The “Identitäre Bewegung” a relatively new far right movement showed up with a transpartent. Their logo was taped over with a german flag. After a little a demonstrator attacked me for taking a picture of him amongst the other racists. Police forces had to intervene. From here on the event continued relatively calm.
A group that also helped arriving refugees at Freilassing station organized colorful counter-protest to show neo-nazis and racists they are not welcome.
To sum up the situation in Freilassing I edited this video:
My collected photo-impressions:
Banner is held up by racists as the demonstrations pours back onto the square it started on.
Front banner of the 450 demonstrators strong event.
AfD functonaries hold speeches from a small stage.
Typical neonazi clothing amongst demonstrators.
Neonazis next to AfD demonstrators holding up a sign “Merkel loses the game about our future!”
450 counter asylum demonstrators move through Freilassing.
AfD demonstrators gather in Freilassing – sign demanding new elections to vote out chancellor Merkel.
AfD demonstrators gather in Freilassing.
Counter protestors welcoming refugees.
Counter protestors holding up signs.
Neonazis next to AfD demonstrators holding up a sign “Stop Merkel!”
AfD functonaries hold speeches from a small stage.
Front and end of the demonstration almost meet as the march only takes a small route.
Counter protestors welcoming refugees.
Banners from the “Identitäre Bewegung” demanding for real democracy. The logo of the new far-right movement is over taped with a german flag.
Demonstrators whisteling and raising fist in the direction of the press.
While speeches are held protesors repetivly scream: “Merkel muss weg” & “Lügenpresse”
“Secure borders, secure homeland!”
Neonazis merge with AfD protestors demanding a lock down of all borders.
Neonazi leaders from the Kameradschaft Berchtesgadenerland march amongst the AfD protestors. Some of them have been charged of crimes with explosives involved.
