On Saturday, May 23, 2026, Day of the Basic Law, the campaign "Defend Human Dignity – Ban the AfD Now!" and "Stand Up Against Racism," together with a broad civil society alliance of over 60 organizations, are calling for nationwide actions across Germany. Rallies under the motto "Defend Human Dignity" are planned at more than 20 locations, with major gatherings in Hamburg, Munich, Nuremberg, and Halle. In Berlin, a street festival for families is being hosted.
The call to action reads, the dignity of human beings is inviolable and stands at the top of the Basic Law as its cornerstone. The organizers state that the Basic Law was meant to be a counter-model to the inhumane Nazi dictatorship. Nearly 80 years after it came into effect, they warn that human dignity in Germany is under massive attack.
The organizers argue that the AfD is a far-right party present in the Bundestag and nearly all state parliaments. They describe the AfD as a driving force for hate and violence, arguing that it tramples on the dignity of all people who do not fit into its worldview and poses a concrete danger to their lives.
They point out that the AfD already frequently sets the tone at the local level. They warn that with autumn state elections approaching, governments could fall into fascist hands for the first time.
According to the campaign, human dignity is not only threatened by the AfD. They argue that the overall societal climate is shifting to the right, which is particularly evident in what they call inhumane deportation policies at both the national and European level.
The organizers note that the authors of the Basic Law foresaw the possibility that political majorities could drift to the far right again, and that is why the instrument of a party ban is enshrined in the constitution. They argue that the developments in the USA and especially Germany's own historical experience show that standing by and waiting until far-right extremists come to power and attack human rights and democracy is not an option.
The campaign states that the Bundestag, Bundesrat, and federal government have a duty to initiate the ban proceedings. Their message is clear: words must finally be followed by action.
The alliance acknowledges that a party ban alone will not make the AfD's positions disappear from society. They state that countering these positions is and remains essentially the task of political engagement with a clear anti-fascist stance, whether in parliament or on the streets, in the workplace or among friends and acquaintances.
However, they argue a ban can dismantle the party's organizational structure, strip it of its financial and personnel resources, and reopen space for discussion on pressing issues.
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