Protesters Rally Against Merz and the CDU in Dusseldorf

In the heart of Düsseldorf, a wave of protest has swept through the city, prompted by the controversial political stances of Friedrich Merz. The "Düsseldorf Against Merz" initiative, along with the "Feminist Fight Day Düsseldorf" alliance, organised a rally on Schadowplatz on Sunday, February 9th.

The protesters, numbering several hundred, gathered in front of the University House, their voices echoing through the streets. The repeated message was clear: "We stand for a society where all people live equally and solidarity. Let's show together that Friedrich Merz is not our Chancellor!"

Their criticism of Merz is not limited to his political maneuvering with the AfD. His stance on various issues, including the decriminalization of abortion, the right to asylum, and protections for inter, trans, and non-binary persons, has been a source of concern.

Merz's alleged misogynistic and queerphobic positions have caused outrage among the protesters. An activist from the Feminist Fight Day Düsseldorf stated that Merz actively opposes equality, sees women in government as a threat to the quality of politics, and repeatedly associates homosexuality with pedophilia.

Moreover, the Düsseldorf Against Merz initiative criticizes Merz for his racist rhetoric towards migrants and refugees. His alleged stance on issues like the bill on rape within marriage without a recourse clause, dating back to 1997, has also raised eyebrows.

The protesters continued to chant "Shame on you CDU", expressing their disapproval of the CDU and Merz for their policies that seem to favour large corporations and banks over the working population.

A musician named Luks has even written a song against Merz as part of the protests. The protesters' clear commitment to democracy was evident as they marched through the city, their voices united against a potential Chancellor whose worldview they believe undermines fundamental rights and fuels racism and misogyny.

The protesters are not the only ones voicing their opposition. A broad alliance has organised a rally for the federal election at Schadowplatz. The future demonstration against the AfD in Düsseldorf is scheduled for September 15, 2025. It will start at 17:30 at Fürstenplatz with a demonstration march going to the Bürgerhaus Bilk, where at 18:00 a rally with musical performances will take place to protest against the AfD event featuring Götz Kubitschek as a speaker.

The protesters have made their stance clear: they stand for a society where all people live equally, and they will not stand for a politics of division, social cuts, and disenfranchisement. The future of German politics may well hang in the balance as these voices continue to be heard.