In Magdeburg, over 120 migrant-owned businesses temporarily closed today to protest rising xenophobia and warn of economic risks tied to anti-migration policies ahead of the upcoming state election in Saxony-Anhalt.

Over 120 businesses owned by individuals with migration backgrounds in Magdeburg shuttered their doors for several hours in a collective protest against racism. The symbolic strike aimed to highlight growing fears among migrant communities as concerns mount over a potential state government led by the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. Organizers emphasized the importance of sending a clear message against division and xenophobia.

The protest comes in response to AfD’s hardline policies on migration, which include opposing foreign workforce recruitment in key sectors such as healthcare and rejecting general labor migration. Critics, including activist Saaeid Saaeid of the Saxony-Anhalt Refugee Council, warn that such rhetoric and policies foster social division. A rally later in the day included personal testimonies from those affected by discrimination and exclusion, further underscoring fears within marginalized communities.

Economic experts have joined the conversation, cautioning against the broader implications of AfD’s proposed policies. Reint Gropp, head of the Leibniz Institute for Economic Research, estimated that a hostile stance toward migration could reduce Saxony-Anhalt’s annual economic growth by up to one percent. Gropp emphasized that economic progress in the region is largely driven by migrants, whose contributions fill critical workforce gaps as local populations age and retire. Protesters argue that sidelining migration would harm both societal cohesion and economic stability.