Thousands of people took to the streets of Germany on Sunday to denounce far-right extremism, with Chancellor Olaf Scholz among the demonstrators. The rallies came in response to a recent report revealing that extremists had gathered to discuss mass deportations of immigrants and German citizens if they were to come to power. Protests were held in Potsdam, near Berlin, as well as at the Brandenburg Gate in the capital, following a similar demonstration in Duisburg on Saturday.

The investigative media outlet Correctiv disclosed that a far-right meeting in November involved members of the extremist Identitarian Movement and the Alternative for Germany party (AfD). Austrian citizen Martin Sellner, a member of the Identitarian Movement, presented his vision for mass deportations, often referred to as "remigration." The proposals discussed during the meeting were deemed as violating the German constitution's Basic Law, which prohibits discrimination based on race, language, or country of origin.

Reacting to the revelations, Potsdam Mayor Mike Schubert expressed his concern, saying that the discussed plans were reminiscent of Germany's darkest historical chapter. The AfD party, seeking to distance itself from the meeting, claimed it had no organizational or financial links to the event, stating that members who attended did so in a purely personal capacity.

As a result of the furor surrounding the report, calls have been made for a potential ban on the AfD party, which has steadily shifted towards the right since its establishment in 2013. However, critics of the idea argue that the ban, even if successful, would be a lengthy process and could potentially benefit the party by painting it as a victim. The AfD currently holds the second spot in national polls, trailing behind the mainstream center-right opposition and leading the parties in the center-left Scholz's unpopular coalition.

Germany is now gearing up for the European Parliament elections in June, followed by state elections in September, particularly in three eastern regions where the AfD has a strong presence. These regions include Brandenburg, where the city of Potsdam is located.

The rallies, joined by Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, symbolize the commitment of thousands of Germans to uphold democracy and fight against the rise of far-right extremism both past and present.