Police officers guard as protesters block a road during a rally against party convention of Alternative for Germany, or AfD in Erfurt, Germany, Saturday, July 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi) 05 Jul 2026 05:24AM ERFURT, Germany: Thousands protested against Germany's far-right AfD and blocked roads to its annual conference in the eastern city of Erfurt on Saturday (Jul 4), where the party re-elected the two leaders who have overseen its rise as a national force.Protesters from unions, civil society groups and left-wing parties gathered as large numbers of police, including reinforcements from across Germany, were deployed ahead of the AfD's two-day conference. AfD stands for Alternative for Germany.Watched by police in riot gear, protesters sat in rows to block highways and roads leading