Overview

• Around 100 residents in Golßen mobilized on August 7 to protest a private donation by AfD parliamentary leader Hans-Christoph Berndt to the town festival.
• The contribution was listed in a festival flyer and has raised concerns about right-wing extremist influence in local events.
• Berndt, who is under surveillance by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, defended his gift as a personal act supporting a cash-strapped municipality.
• Initiative Golßen für alle organizers said the demonstration was meant to send a signal against extremist encroachment on community spaces.
• The Golßen city council meeting Thursday evening is set to consider formal rules allowing officials to reject donations from extremist-linked sources before the festival on August 8–9.