Leipzig in turmoil: protests against police violence and NSU documentation open

Leipzig in turmoil: protests against police violence and NSU documentation open

On May 25, 2025, various significant events and incidents took place in Leipzig that attracted both local and national attention. Around 200 people demonstrated against police violence on Saturday. The reason for the protest was an incident that occurred the previous week at Leipzig Central Station, when police used violence during a pro-Palestinian rally, resulting in injuries and property damage. The police justified their actions with initial suspicion against suspected suspects in a tram.

There was also an attack on a planned police station on Friday night. Unknown perpetrators threw stones and paint bottles at the windows while the group set off pyrotechnics. This led to investigations into breach of the peace. Graffiti, some with reference to the Middle East conflict, was also placed on the Old Stock Exchange and the City History Museum in Leipzig, which led to further investigations into property damage.

Documentation center opened in Chemnitz

The “Open Trial” documentation center on the NSU complex was opened in Chemnitz on Sunday. This facility is part of a pilot project that is supported by several civil society organizations and is embedded in the efforts to deal with the crimes of the National Socialist Underground (NSU). The aim of the center is to document and process the crimes and their social impact.

The opening took place in the context of Chemnitz's award as European Capital of Culture. The planned area of ​​1,300 square meters will include exhibitions, educational offerings and research areas. The project is supported by important personalities such as Saxon State Minister Katja Meier, who emphasized the importance of this project for democracy and for combating right-wing extremism. Gamze Kubaşık, daughter of an NSU victim, pointed out the need for a memorial in Chemnitz.

Social context

The documentation center in Chemnitz is part of a broad discussion that goes beyond the concrete implementation of a nationwide memorial for the victims of the NSU crimes. This issue is also being addressed politically at the highest level, as the traffic light parties stated in their coalition agreement. Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser also supports the initiatives that are intended to remind people of the crimes and failures of the authorities. A feasibility study on the establishment of a central documentation center has already been carried out and shows the importance of an enlightened society with regard to right-wing terrorist violence.

Aside from these serious issues, a number of district festivals also took place in Leipzig this weekend, including the West Visit and the street festival at Connewitzer Kreuz. However, the shadow of violence and the challenges posed by racist incidents and police brutality remained present. The weekend was marked by intense social debates about freedom, the rights of minorities and the responsibility of the police.

Overall, the course of the weekend in Leipzig and Chemnitz illustrates the ongoing tensions as well as the attempts to actively address both socio-political issues and the memory of the darkest chapters of German history.

Further information about the documentation center can be found on the Saxon Justice website. Reports about the PKK can be found at tagesschau.de.