A left-wing protest against “police rule” in the small town of Schwarzenberg quickly turned violent on Saturday, December 13th.
Hundreds of demonstrators, including Antifa activists from major cities such as Dresden and Leipzig, travelled to the town (pop. around 15,000) to protest against what they described as “state repression and right-wing forces.”
Police broke off routine Advent season duties and were forced to halt the march several times, after smoke bombs and other pyrotechnic devices were set off and bottles were thrown at officers—despite an official ban on such items.
A right-wing group known as “Freie Sachsen” also appeared at the scene, accusing left-wing protesters of attempting to break into a nearby Christmas market—an allegation an Antifa spokesperson dismissed as “right-wing incitement.” Several people were arrested during the clashes, and police reported injuries on both sides.
The events in Schwarzenberg echo other recent violent protests in Germany, where tensions between police, political activists, and local residents have escalated into confrontations.
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