In a country where democracy was rebuilt from the ruins of its own betrayal, the question of who protects those who protect it has returned with quiet urgency. Across eastern Germany, educators, migrant advocates, and elected officials face a sustained campaign of harassment, vandalism, and intimidation linked to the rise of the far-right AfD — a pressure that has reshaped daily life for those who work in civil society. In response, more than eighty organizations, from trade unions to churches to environmental groups, have joined a Solidarity Agreement pledging legal, financial, and public sup
German civil society unites to protect democracy activists from far-right threats
Activists and public servants face physical assault, vandalism, threats to animals, social ostracism, and job security concerns due to far-right targeting.