In Düsseldorf, Germany, approximately 7,000 individuals, representing a broad coalition of civil society groups, unions, and initiatives, protested against an appearance by Thuringian AfD leader Björn Höcke. The demonstration, featuring a satirical float by artist Jacques Tilly and various other forms of protest, took place concurrently with a rally where around 300 supporters celebrated Höcke. During his speech, Höcke referred to the demonstrators as "victims" who had been "ideologized" by German educational institutions, and called for "normal people" to show courage against those he deemed "therapy-needing." He advocated for the AfD as the "party of common sense" and criticized political correctness. Earlier, thousands had also protested Höcke's appearance at an AfD New Year's reception in Dortmund. Höcke, who has faced legal convictions for using a banned Nazi slogan, leads the Thuringian AfD, which is classified as extremist by the state's constitutional protection agency.