Twenty-five thousand anti-Islam protesters march in Dresden, Germany.

[another_liberal]

Records were set tonight in several German cities for the size of anti-Islamic protests. On the other hand, in most of the same cities such protests were actually outnumbered by counter-protesters calling for national tolerance toward immigrants.

Sympathizers of German right-wing populist movement PEGIDA (Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the Occident) attend their twelfth march in Dresden, eastern Germany on January 12, 2015. (AFP)


Anti-Islam & pro-tolerance demonstrators take to German streets


Thousands of people participated in anti-Islam rallies in Germany, with many wearing black ribbons in solidarity with the victims of the massacre in Paris. Massive counter-demonstrations simultaneously called for nationwide tolerance. A record 25,000 people joined an anti-Islamic march in Dresden on Monday, AFP reported. The Dresden rally, one in a series of weekly marches that have been taking place since October, was organized by anti-immigration group Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamization of the West (PEGIDA).

However, counter-protests against PEGIDA have also been held throughout Germany. In most German cities, anti-PEGIDA demonstrators have outnumbered PEGIDA supporters. German national news agency DPA reported that anti-PEGIDA rallies saw over 8,000 activists assemble in Dresden, 30,000 in Leipzig, 20,000 in Munich, 17,000 in Hanover, 9,000 in Saarbruecken, 5,000 in Duesseldorf, 4,000 each in Berlin and Hamburg, and 2,000 in Rostock.

In Dresden, which drew Monday's biggest crowds, PEGIDA activists and their rivals took part in an aggressive verbal exchange as protesters traded lewd hang signals and banged on the security fence set up to prevent scuffles. The rival demonstrators were chased off by police before the situation could escalate further, Ruptly reported.

In Leipzig, protesters gathered in a parking lot outside the Red Bull Arena and proceeded to march to the Waldstrasse Quarter, where they were surrounded by police who cordoned off streets, Ruptly reported. A few scuffles between protesters and police reportedly took place.

(snip)


Read more, and view videos, at: http://rt.com/news/221955-pegida-dresden-crowds-protest/

[NYC_SKP]

1. Grateful for counter-protesters calling for national tolerance toward immigrants.

That probably pisses off some folks more than the cartoons.

Thanks for posting.

[Duckhunter935]

3. That is part of old East Germany

far less tolerant and much closer to the Russians than is the more progressive western part of Germany, even after all of these years.

[another_liberal]

5. Berlin is part of eastern Germany . . .

It's a geographical fact, my friend.

[Duckhunter935]

7. yep

and west Berlin did not have to live under Russian oppression.

[another_liberal]

8. Happy them.

[Duckhunter935]

9. I think so

A lot of East Germans died trying to get to the freedom of West Berlin.

[another_liberal]

10. Not to mention the many more who got caught trying . . .

You know it.

Dividing Germany was an unconscionable Superpower compromise, even in the short term. For the German people it was tragedy whose effects are still powerfully felt.

[Duckhunter935]

11. and that is a true statement

Check point Charlie museum had some crazy exhibits.

[another_liberal]

6. Yes, they're the best . . .

And it had to be a pretty cold damn night there too, in more ways than one.

[Takket]

2. Why wasn't OBAMA there?

Let's see no Obama at an anti-Islam protest... who wouldn't show up for an Anti-Islam protest? Oh yeah... A MUSLIM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[another_liberal]

4. What?