After the Office for The German domestic intelligence services classified the AfD as right-wing extremist on May 2, the “AfD ban now” campaign is calling for a nationwide day of action on Sunday, May 11. The Ennepe-Ruhr Bündnis Ennepe-Ruhr stellt sich quer (ENSSQ) is also taking part.

It is clear to us that the AfD is an extreme right-wing, anti-democratic and inhumane party. The AfD in Witten is certainly no exception. It maintains close contacts with Dortmund AfD MP Matthias Helferich, who describes himself as “the friendly face of National Socialism”, and has taken in activists from the far-right “Identitarian Movement”, with which the party officially has an incompatibility agreement. The chairman of the AfD in the Witten city council, Matthias Renkel, who now wants to run for district administrator, has already been convicted of crimes committed against political rivals. The assessment by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution only confirms what has long been obvious.

But what does the reclassification mean in concrete terms? First of all, no one can say that the AfD is a normal party anymore, and it should not be treated as such by any democratic party. It must be isolated and ostracized, its propaganda and trivializing veneer must be exposed and its themes must not be adopted. Civil service careers or jobs in the public sector must no longer be an option for supporters of this party.

But that is not enough. The Basic Law provides a means of protecting our democracy by banning political parties. This ban must be reviewed now! Because either the AfD moderates itself in the course of such proceedings - or it is banned. Both would be a win!

The racist attitudes of a fifth of society would remain. In order to change this, it is essential that political debate and anti-fascist civil society work is undertaken. That is why we are taking to the streets and loudly opposing the AfD and racism everywhere!

For more information: https://www.instagram.com/p/DJY3Oh5soIp/?igsh=eHJod3Q3cnoxdzV2