150,000 Germans rally to ban far-right AfD after eastern election win
Around 150,000 people protested in about 20 German cities on Saturday against the far-right AfD party following its recent electoral victory in an eastern region. Demonstrators demanded the party be banned. The AfD, an anti-migrant and pro-Russia party, won nearly 44% of votes in Saxony-Anhalt last week and seeks to form Germany's first far-right regional government since World War II. Organizers reported large rallies in Berlin, Hamburg, and Munich under the "Ban the AfD now" campaign. The protests reflect public concern over Germany's Nazi past and the AfD's rise. Calls for a formal ban are growing, though opinions differ. In Berlin, a counter-rally by the AfD also took place ahead of its September 20 municipal election.