Rising Tide of Hate: Leipzig's Far-Right Protesters and It's Dark Underbelly

In a chilling display of rising far-right extremism, Leipzig witnessed a disturbing protest on August 17, 2024, an aggressive crowd of over 300 young people, many of them still in school, vocational institutes and university, gathered to oppose a planned Pride march.

The protest, fuelled by a toxic mix of white supremacy, anti-queer sentiment, and xenophobia, was not the typical image of an aging, disenfranchised far-right movement. Unlike the stereotypical image of far-right supporters, this group was disturbingly juvenile, youthful. Instead, it showcased a new generation of extremists—some as young as 12 or 13 years old (speculative)*, with the majority in their teens and twenties. The absence of older demonstrators was striking, underscoring a worrying trend of radicalization among Germany’s younger generation.

The crowd of over 300 included around 10% young girls, with barely any adults over the age of 35. Their youth, however, did not diminish the aggression they displayed. With fists raised in a gesture eerily reminiscent of the Nazi salute, these young protesters have found ways to circumvent Germany’s strict ban on Nazi symbols, using gestures that evoke the era’s brutality without directly violating the law.

One such sign, a hand sign with the thumb and index fingers forming a circle while the other fingers are extended, is an overt reference to white supremacy, a symbol popularized by far-right movements in the United States. The protest was organized under the chilling motto: “White, Normal, Hetero,” a slogan that underscores their regressive and dangerous ideology.

The scene was a sobering reminder of the persistence of intolerance and hate, even in those so young. The sight of young people so vehemently opposed to basic human rights is a stark reminder of the challenges Germany faces in combating the resurgence of extremism.

Chants of “Ausländer raus” (foreigners out), echoed through the Leipzig station as the group assembled, a phrase with echoes of Germany’s darkest history, recently popularized by affluent young Germans vacationing in Sylt.

For those witnessing the event, like myself, the sight of so many young people consumed by such hatred was deeply unsettling. It brought to mind the fears of a close friend who is about to begin her career as a teacher. Just recently, her mother expressed concern about the dangers she might face if she were to come out as queer in a school environment. At the time, we both brushed it off as an overprotective mother's worry, but seeing these children filled with anger and bigotry, the fear feels all too real.

My friend, who just completed her master’s degree, often speaks of the inherent risks of being a woman in today's world. Now, the thought that a student might target her because of her sexuality is a terrifying possibility. This protest was not just an expression of hate; it was a stark warning of the growing radicalization of youth in Germany—a generation that, instead of learning from history, seems poised to repeat its most dangerous mistakes.