The event garnered widespread support from various sectors, including the Munich Film Festival, church organizations, social welfare agencies, and local football clubs like FC Bayern and TSV 1860.
Friedrich Merz, the frontrunner for Germany's chancellorship, is facing scrutiny over his recent alliance with the AfD, although polls indicate his party's support remains stable.
CSU leader Markus Söder has reiterated that there will be no collaboration between the Union and the AfD, emphasizing the importance of democracy and the risks posed by the far-right party.
Controversially, the CDU and FDP were uninvited from speaking at the Hannover rally due to their previous collaboration with the AfD in the Bundestag.
Despite the protests, the CDU continues to lead in polls at around 30%, with the AfD in second place, while the ruling Social Democrats and Greens remain around 15%.
The electoral campaign has increasingly focused on immigration issues, particularly following violent incidents involving foreigners, including a recent knife attack in Aschaffenburg.
Weinberg, a Holocaust survivor, plans to return his Federal Cross of Merit in protest against the political developments involving the AfD.
The events highlight the significance of collective action in preserving democratic values and tolerance within society.
The AfD, which has been in the national parliament since 2017, gained traction following Chancellor Angela Merkel's decision to allow significant immigration to Germany.
In Hannover, around 24,000 people participated in a demonstration organized by 'Omas gegen Rechts', coinciding with protests against an AfD election stand.
Federal Defense Minister Boris Pistorius warned that recent events in the Bundestag could encourage collaboration with the AfD in Eastern German states.
The demonstration in Kappeln, held under the slogan 'Democracy Needs You', was reported as peaceful by police.
