Violence Erupts at Antifa-Led Protest Against AfD Youth Conference in Germany

GIESSEN, Germany — November 30, 2025 — Violent clashes broke out between protesters and police during a large demonstration against the Alternative for Germany (AfD) youth wing conference in the central German city of Giessen, officials said. The protest, which drew between 25,000 and 30,000 participants including members of the radical group Antifa, disrupted the start of the AfD youth convention known as Generation Deutschland.

Authorities deployed a record 6,000 police officers, the largest contingent ever in the state of Hesse, to manage the unrest. According to police reports, officers used pepper spray and water cannons to disperse protesters after stones were thrown at law enforcement personnel and demonstrators ignored orders to leave the area. Several attempts by groups of protesters to breach barriers near the convention center were met with force. Between 10 and 15 officers sustained minor injuries during the confrontations.

The protest targeted the founding of the new AfD youth organization, which replaced its predecessor Junge Alternative, a group previously classified as right-wing extremist before dissolving itself. AfD co-leader Alice Weidel condemned the demonstrators, calling their actions “deeply undemocratic.”

Boris Rhein, governor of Hesse and a member of the Christian Democratic Union, criticized the violence and efforts to obstruct the AfD event, stating that “the use of violence and attempts to prevent assemblies through marches can never be democratic means.”

The unrest comes amid heightened tensions surrounding the AfD, which secured 20.8% of the vote in a February election but remains isolated by mainstream German parties due to concerns over its extremist positions.

Former U.S. Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell commented on the situation, warning of the growing influence of what he described as the “intolerant and violent Left” in Germany. He noted that the German left receives substantial media support, including public funding, while conservative media remains smaller but is expanding.

The protests and resulting violence have also been cited in discussions by the Trump administration regarding the designation of Antifa as a foreign terrorist organization, reflecting ongoing concerns about left-wing extremist activities in Europe.

The demonstration in Giessen marks a significant moment in the ongoing political and social conflicts surrounding right-wing and left-wing groups in Germany, highlighting the challenges authorities face in balancing public order and political expression.