Mayor Herntier fights against right-wing extremism in Spremberg!

Mayor Herntier fights against right-wing extremism in Spremberg!

In Spremberg the signs point to a storm when it comes to the topic of right-wing extremism. Mayor Christine Herntier recently warned urgently about the danger posed by right-wing extremist groups. Young people in particular seem to be targeted by these trends, which has prompted Herntier to draw citizens' attention to the situation. Her fire letter on the subject of right-wing extremism has already attracted nationwide attention. However, on July 22 this year, about 20 people gathered in the market square to protest against her comments, saying that the city was actually a quiet place with more important problems. zdfheute reports.

However, the information content of Herntier's official gazette should not be underestimated. In it she specifically addresses the neo-Nazi party “The Third Way”, which is active in the region. Their warnings are based on worrying figures. According to the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, there were around 38,000 right-wing extremist crimes across Germany in 2024, and in Brandenburg the number of violent right-wing extremists rose to around 3,650, which represents a record high. Furthermore, the data shows that almost a fifth of these people are classified as violence-oriented. tagesspiegel.de explains, that the AfD reacted indignantly in the city council and criticized the mayor for the alleged damage to the city's reputation.

Mayor against hostility

Christine Herntier vehemently defends herself against allegations of damaging the city's image. She emphasizes that it is her duty to address the problems openly in order to combat sedition and similar crimes. During a city council meeting, she even showed pictures of anti-constitutional symbols that were daubed in Spremberg. In doing so, she wanted to send a clear signal and call on citizens to work together to combat such acts. zdfheute highlights that some citizens in Haidemühl, a district of Spremberg, also expressed their support for the mayor.

However, not all citizens agree. During the protests on the market square, participants said that it was not the right-wing extremists but the appearance of foreign young people that was putting a strain on the city. Such statements are in direct contrast to the warnings from the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, which points to a right-wing extremist scene in the region. Lorenz Blumenthaler from the Amadeu Antonio Foundation characterized the developments simply as a “right-wing extremist land grab” in the area. As the daily mirror reports, There have been attacks by right-wing extremist violent criminals in Spremberg for over a decade.

A worrying trend

The current situation is alarming: Statistics show a continued increase in right-wing extremist violence in Germany. In 2024, 1,281 such acts were registered, an increase of 11.6% compared to the previous year. There were also 916 physical assault crimes with a xenophobic background. This shows that the situation is serious and there is a need for action, as verfassungsschutz.de also shows. verfassungsschutz.de leaves no doubt about this.

In Spremberg it takes more than words to counteract this trend. Citizens have a responsibility to work together to promote respectful coexistence and not to lose sight of the various problems that could lead to division. Because only together can we counter the burgeoning extremism and the daily challenges.