More than 15,000 demonstrate against Germany's far-right AfD

More than 15,000 people demonstrated against the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in the city of Essen in the west of Germany, as well as in Leipzig and Rostock in the east on Monday evening. 

In Essen, many carried banners with slogans such as: "Don't let Nazis march or take part in government" or "Colourful instead of crappy brown". 

Among the participants were groups like "Grandmas Against the Right" and the youth wing of the DGB trade union. 

The AfD has seen its popularity soar as it capitalises on economic anxiety and migration fears. Poll numbers put the AfD as Germany's second-strongest party. 

An alliance of left-wing and civil organizations had called for the protests against the AfD. In their announcement, the initiators explicitly referred to a recent report by the investigative outlet Correctiv about the participation of AfD officials in a meeting in Potsdam last year in which the concept of "remigration" – the repatriation of immigrants – was discussed. 

Tens of thousands took to the streets against the right in several demonstrations across the country over the weekend. Police said around 6,700 demonstrators took part in the protest march in Essen. 

The protest in Leipzig was directed not only against the AfD but also against the arch-conservative Werteunion (Values Union) group. 

The police estimated the number of participants there at around 6,000. The demonstrators chanted "Fascism never again", with banners reading "no AfD" and "AfD = Nazi party". 

In Rostock, around 2,500 demonstrators took part in an event organised by the network "Nazi-free Rostock".    (dpa)