The demonstration weekend in Giessen surrounding the founding of the new Alternative for Germany (AfD) youth organization, Generation Germany (GD), saw a number of violent scenes that have led to condemnation from Hesse Interior Minister Roman Poseck (CDU) and other officials.
According to police, demonstrations by various organizers against the AfD were “mostly peaceful.” However, in some places, there were violent clashes, and “Water cannons were used to break up road blockades.”
However, Poseck said that “without the police, the most serious acts of violence and civil war-like conditions would have occurred in Giessen.” He added that the police’s use of coercive means was “necessary and permissible,” for example, to prevent violent demonstrators from “breaking through to the AfD venue or blocking access roads and emergency routes for long periods of time.”
Poseck stated: “We must not allow individual groups in our country to enter a parallel legal world.”
He stressed that “The end does not justify the means.”
The demonstration and the founding of the AfD youth movement came right at a time when the AfD saw its best poll result so far, reaching 27 percent, making it the most popular party in the country by two points.
Managerial Class Libs: "The rise of Right-wing populism is one of the greatest mysteries of the present age."
Germans: "It's the migration."
Managerial Class Libs: "Why is AfD surging?? What dark magic is at work??"
Germans: "It's the migration."
Managerial Class Libs: "Truly… https://t.co/ARAfrXtYqv
— Christian Heiens 🏛 (@ChristianHeiens) November 30, 2025Notably, Hessian Prime Minister Boris Rhein (CDU) referred to the events as a “left-wing low point” and criticized the “forced marches in Giessen.” He wished for the moderate left to “distance themselves from this weekend of violence in Giessen.”
Alice Weidel, the leader of the AfD, also took to X to highlight some of the violence against police she saw, writing: “Yesterday’s day has shown: This cannot go on. Media and political competitors are equally called upon to return to freedom of opinion and democracy!”
Der gestrige Tag hat gezeigt: So kann es nicht weitergehen. Medien und politische Mitbewerber sind gleichermaßen dazu aufgefordert, zurückzukehren zu Meinungsfreiheit und Demokratie! pic.twitter.com/1aZnKsOf8U
— Alice Weidel (@Alice_Weidel) November 30, 2025The AfD event, held in the Hessenhallen on Saturday, saw approximately 25,000 people attend, according to police. The turnout was much lower than expected, but the “Resist” alliance claimed over 50,000 people attended. The associated police operation was one of the largest in Hesse, involving up to 5,000 officers from 15 federal states acted as a barrier to the AfD event.
Police Chief Krückemeier, while noting the worst scenarios did not occur, reported that between “10 and 20 police officers were slightly injured.” Three people were arrested, but “all have left the detention center shortly afterwards.”
While data on injured demonstrators was not available, the Giessen-Marburg University Hospital treated around 15 demonstrators on Saturday afternoon.
Good Morning from Germany, where three-quarters of citizens are now dissatisfied w/Chancellor Friedrich Merz's policies. No chancellor in recent history has seen approval ratings this low, less than a year into their term. pic.twitter.com/YN5ii99gYr
— Holger Zschaepitz (@Schuldensuehner) November 30, 2025The German Federation of Trade Unions (DGB) Hesse-Thuringia, which organized the largest protest claiming over 20,000 participants, emphasized that their event was “very determined and peaceful” and that cooperation with the police was good. However, chairman Michael Rudolph noted, referring to injured police officers and demonstrators, that “these incidents need to be resolved on both sides.”
Laura Wolf, spokeswoman for the “Resist” alliance, accused police officers of having “paved the way for fascists.”
Police Chief Krückemeier defended the actions of law enforcement, saying “that the rights of arrested people had been taken into account at all times,” and that there is “currently no evidence of unlawful use of coercion.”
