Neo-Nazi’s don’t get far in Mainz: a broad alliance of anti-racist protestors stopped a gathering of right-wing extremists in Mainz on Saturday

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1. > Mainz (dpa/lrs) – With demonstrations and roadblocks, a broad alliance of anti-racist initiatives, parties, unions and church groups stopped a gathering of right-wing extremists in Mainz on Saturday. Instead of moving from the main train station through the city center, the approximately 60 supporters of the far-right New Strength Party (NSP), according to police, were only able to walk a few meters down the street in the Mombach district. Then the police told them not to go any further because of “strong counter-protests.”

   > According to a police spokesman, around 3,000 people took part in the counter-demonstrations. For the alliance “No Nazi march in Mainz! We stand up to them!” more than 60 organizations joined forces, from the Omas gegen Rechts (grannies against the right) to the Bundesliga club FSV Mainz 05. The participants in the counter-demonstration carried signs and banners with inscriptions such as “No Schobbe for Nazis”, “Hate is not an opinion” or “Racism harms the soul”. In addition, many followed a call by Antifa groups from several cities nationwide under the slogan “Disarm right-wing fighting culture.”

   > At a rally in front of the main train station, Mainz Mayor Michael Ebling (SPD) said anyone who openly spouted Nazi slogans had no place in Mainz: “They should pack their brown backpacks again and go home.” Anti-democratic and fascist forces must be shown a clear boundary, he said. On the number of far-right demonstrators, he said, “It doesn’t matter if there are 10, 20, 50 or 100.” In the 1920s and 1930s, he said, it also started with small numbers. These, he said, “then began a triumphal march that ended in barbarism, that brought millions of people to the gas chambers.”

   > In three demonstrations, the participants of the anti-fascist alliance moved to the main train station, the supposed meeting place of the NSP. Then it became known that the right-wing extremist gathering was to begin with considerable delay at the Waggonfabrik station, three kilometers away in the Mombach district. Thereupon, a large part of the counter-demonstrators ran off there. A smaller group formed a roadblock at the suburban station.

   > Clashes with the police occurred when the larger part of the counter-demonstrators was stopped by the police. Several people tried to attack the police cordon, a police spokesman said. “These attempts were stopped by the use of pepper spray and baton,” police said. Demo medics treated about 70 people, according to the statement.

   > The departure of the NSP demonstrators was delayed because counter-demonstrators occupied tracks. As a result, train traffic was temporarily suspended. Participants in the NSP gathering had expressed their displeasure at the delay with “insulting statements to the emergency forces,” police said.

   > Four people had been taken into temporary custody. In total, several preliminary proceedings were initiated, including for incitement of the people, insult and damage to property.

   > According to the city, the New Strength Party (NSP), which was originally formed in Erfurt, had registered up to 100 participants for its meeting. As a motto, the registrants named: “Fight culture – get your city and your country back”. The Interior Ministry of Rhineland-Palatinate described the NSP as “obviously neo-Nazi”. Its program, it said, was “characterized by the idea of a biologistic-folkish nationalism typical of the neo-Nazi scene.”

   > “Even if the right-wingers were not able to march in Mainz today, we must take the threat seriously,” said Roland Schäfer, chairman of the Rheinhessen Against the Right association. He said that small far-right parties like the NSP had become a rallying point for violence-oriented right-wing extremists. “Therefore, we demand a consistent ban on these parties.”

   *Translated with DeepL*

2. Good job you guys 🙂