Thousands Protest Against Right-Wing Extremism in Hamburg and Austria

Over the weekend, tens of thousands of people demonstrated against right-wing extremism in Hamburg, Germany, and Vienna, Innsbruck, and Salzburg, Austria. In Hamburg, the event, supported by over 40 organizations, was a response to a report about a meeting between AfD politicians and members of the CDU and the 'Werteunion'.

The protests in Austria were held to warn against the possibility of the right-wing populist Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) entering the government. Despite the protests, the AfD in Germany has seen an increase in membership applications, with around 2,500 received in January.

However, according to Professor Juliane Degner, the demonstrations do not change the beliefs of extreme right-wingers, often leading to defiance and reinforcing their views.