On Saturday, an extensive demonstration featuring activists from the radical group Antifa, which President Donald Trump labeled as a domestic terrorist entity, delayed a conference organized by the youth wing of the right-wing populist party, Alternative for Germany (AfD), known as Generation Deutschland.

Amidst the protest against the AfD youth assembly in Giessen, central Germany, an impressive turnout of 25,000 to 30,000 individuals led to the deployment of the largest police force ever seen in the state of Hesse, comprising 6,000 officers.

AfD co-leader Alice Weidel vocally criticized the protesters at the city’s convention center.

“What is happening outside — dear left-wingers, dear extremists, you must reflect — is profoundly undemocratic,” Weidel remarked.

Two demonstrators were seen leaping over a barrier as a water cannon was utilized. Thousands gathered to oppose the formation of a new AfD youth group on Saturday, succeeding Junge Alternative, which had previously disbanded after being labeled a right-wing extremist organization. (Hannes P Albert/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images)

According to The Associated Press, police resorted to pepper spray after stones were thrown in their direction. Water cannons were employed to disperse around 2,000 protesters who refused to vacate a blockade. This tactic was repeated later in the day when another group attempted to breach barriers near the convention center. Authorities reported deploying up to 6,000 officers, with 10 to 15 sustaining minor injuries.

The former U.S. ambassador to Germany during the first administration, Richard Grenell, warned on X about the dangers of the anti-democratic left in the Federal Republic of Germany. 

He wrote, “The intolerant and violent Left is gaining ground in Germany. If they follow the U.S. left then they will promote deadly violence while also losing public support — and elections. But they won’t see the errors of their ways because the German left gets lots of support from the media in Germany. It’s publicly funded, too. The conservative media is small and timid — but growing fast.”

Boris Rhein, the Christian Democratic Union governor of the state of Hesse, criticized the attacks on police and the attempt to torpedo the AfD youth event.

“The use of violence and attempts to prevent assemblies through marches can never be democratic means,” said Rhein.

The AfD scored an impressive second place election result in February, securing 20.8% of the vote. However, the mainstream German parties refused to form a coalition with the AfD because of what they said were its extremist views.

Police and demonstrators, including Antifa members, clash on a road near the Lahnbrücke bridge. Several thousand demonstrators protested against the founding of a new AfD youth organization Saturday. Nov. 29, 2025. (Lando Hass/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images)

The youth division of the AfD elected 28-year-old Jean-Pascal Hohm as its chairman. According to an article in the German paper Die Welt, a local intelligence report quoted him as expressing anti-immigrant and nationalist views. 

“We will fight resolutely for a genuine shift in migration policy that ensures Germany remains the homeland of Germans,” Hohm said at the start of the conference.

The creation of Generation Deutschland unfolded after Germany’s federal intelligence agency classified the previous AfD youth chapter, Young Alternative, as an “extremist organization” in 2023, resulting in its dissolution.

AfD portrays itself as an anti-establishment force at a time of low trust in politicians. It first entered the national parliament in 2017 following the arrival of large numbers of migrants in the mid-2010s. Curbing migration remains its signature theme, but it has shown a talent for capitalizing on discontent about other issues too. That was reflected in leaders’ confident tone Saturday.