150,000 Germans rally against far-right AfD after eastern state win
Around 150,000 people protested in about twenty German cities on Saturday against the far-right AfD party following its recent electoral victory in an eastern state. Demonstrators called for the party to be banned. The AfD, an anti-migrant and pro-Russia party, won nearly 44% of the vote in Saxony-Anhalt last week and seeks to form Germany's first far-right regional government since World War II. Organizers reported rallies in Berlin, Hamburg, and Munich under the "Prüf" campaign banner. Protesters held signs reading "Ban the AfD now" and "Democracy doesn't need alternatives." Calls for a ban are growing, though opinions differ on the procedure. In Berlin, a counter-rally by the AfD took place ahead of the capital's September 20 municipal election.