German Grandmothers Mobilize to Challenge Far-Right AfD Ahead of Elections

The 'Omas gegen Rechts' movement, formed by elderly women, aims to protect democracy and counter rising nationalist rhetoric in Germany.

The 'Omas gegen Rechts' ('Grandmothers Against the Right') movement is composed of women aged 50 to 90+ fighting against the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.
The group is highly visible at protests, donning hand-knit colorful hats and carrying banners advocating for democracy, tolerance, and diversity.
The AfD, polling at 21% ahead of the February 23 elections, is expected to finish second behind CDU/CSU but lacks coalition partners to form a government.
Founded in Austria in 2017, the movement spread to Germany in 2018 and now includes over 30,000 members in 200 groups nationwide.
The 'Omas' emphasize educating younger generations about the dangers of authoritarianism, drawing parallels to historical events and expressing concerns over rising anti-immigrant sentiment.