Berlin, Germany – Yasemin Acar, a woman of Kurdish-Turkish descent, felt concerned when she learned that far-right German politicians were planning mass deportations. To show her opposition, she decided to participate in street protests against the Alternative for Germany (AfD) on January 21, where more than 100,000 Germans joined her.
At the protest, Acar and her friends displayed banners opposing fascists and the hard right, and they also held Palestinian flags as a sign of solidarity with Gaza given the AfD’s stance on Palestine. However, Acar felt uneasy as she was among the few people of migrant background in a crowd primarily made up of white Germans.
The AfD has a history of being hostile towards refugees and migrants, as well as having a contentious stance on Palestine. In the midst of the protest, Acar and her friends felt unwelcome and faced hostility from some of the other protesters. They were told to lower their flags and were even physically attacked. Despite seeking help from law enforcement, they felt unsupported and helpless.
The group of pro-Palestine activists also faced restrictions from the police, which prevented them from joining the main protest route. Frustrated and feeling marginalized, they were forced to register a separate protest.
The incident has sparked criticism and condemnation from various groups, including German-Israeli filmmaker Dror Dayan, who labeled the rejection of the pro-Palestine activists as “sad” but not surprising. The rejection of the pro-Palestinian activists comes amidst increasing allegations of Germany trying to silence pro-Palestinian support and facing accusations of a crackdown on demonstrations in support of Gaza.
Looking ahead, further protests against the AfD are anticipated, with inclusive measures being emphasized to ensure that all voices, including those of pro-Palestinian protesters, are welcome.