Brandenburg state election: demonstration with concerts planned against the AfD

Concerts, speeches and discussions against the right-wing populist party in Cottbus

On Saturday, September 24, 2023, a demonstration with numerous concerts will take place in Cottbus under the motto "Cottbus remains colorful". With this, the organizers are protesting against the AfD, which, according to polls, is likely to become the second strongest force in the Brandenburg state elections on October 2, 2023, behind the SPD.

"The AfD must not be allowed to determine the future of Cottbus and Brandenburg," said Katharina Schenk, chairwoman of the Cottbus "Aufstehen gegen Rassismus" association, at a press conference on Tuesday. The demonstration is intended to send a clear signal that the people of Cottbus are standing up for a tolerant, open and diverse society.

The demonstration will start at 12 noon with a rally on the Altmarkt in Cottbus. Among others, the singer-songwriter Dota Kehr, the German-Turkish singer and musician Özcan Cosar and the punk band ZSK will perform.

The demonstration is supported by numerous organizations, including the DGB, the IGBCE, the Verdi trade union and the AWO. The city of Cottbus also supports the event.

Background: AfD is gaining strength in Brandenburg

The AfD is gaining strength in Brandenburg. In the state elections in 2019, the party achieved 23.5 percent of the vote. According to current polls, the AfD is likely to become the second strongest force in the Brandenburg state elections on October 2, 2023, behind the SPD.

There are several reasons for the rise of the AfD in Brandenburg. One reason is the high proportion of people with a migration background in the state. In 2021, around 14 percent of the population in Brandenburg had a migration background. This is significantly higher than the national average of 26 percent.

Another reason for the rise of the AfD is the economic situation in Brandenburg. The state is one of the poorest in Germany. The unemployment rate is higher than the national average and many people are struggling to make ends meet.

Demonstration against the AfD is important signal

The demonstration against the AfD in Cottbus is an important signal. It shows that the people of Cottbus are standing up for a tolerant, open and diverse society. The demonstration also shows that the people of Cottbus are not willing to let the AfD determine the future of their city and their state.