Thousands march in Berlin for and against far-right

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Europe

00:38

Thousands of protesters marched in Berlin on Sunday in rival rallies pitting supporters and opponents of the anti-immigrant, anti-Islam Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, against a background of blaring techno music.

Police, who were out in force to keep the groups apart, said the march organized by the AfD drew over 5,000 supporters while the counter-demonstrators numbered more than 25,000.

The rallies passed off largely peacefully, although Berlin police said on Twitter that they had to use pepper spray to stop "demonstrators from trying to break down barriers" at one square.

People stage a protest against anti-immigration party Alternative for Germany (AfD) in Berlin, Germany, May 27, 2018. /VCG Photo

AfD supporters kicked off their march "for the future of Germany" shortly after midday at Berlin's main train station, before walking to the iconic Brandenburg Gate, with many waving the German flag and chanting "Merkel must go" and "We are the people."

Berliners responded with at least 13 registered counter-demonstrations, including one by the city's club scene, which put on a techno music party, aiming to "Bass the AfD away" with music blasting from speakers on 20 public address trucks.

"We want to be loud enough to drown out the racist speeches," an activist named Rosa told RBB public television.

AfD leader Alexander Gauland (2nd R) and party member Beatrix von Storch (R) take part in an anti-immigration and anti-Islam rally in Berlin, Germany, May 27, 2018. /VCG Photo

The AfD became the third largest party in the German Bundestag in September, surfing a wave of anger over Chancellor Angela Merkel's decision to open Germany's borders to more than a million refugees in 2015.

Addressing the crowd on Sunday, AfD chairman Alexander Gauland said: "We love our country. And we want to pass it on to our children the way our grandfathers did for us."

AfD deputy leader Beatrix von Storch, the granddaughter of Adolf Hitler's finance minister, told demonstrators that Germany was "a prime example of failed integration."

The age difference between AfD supporters, mostly older, and anti-AfD protesters, most of them younger people, highlighted the divisions that have emerged in Germany since the 2015 refugee crisis.

People stage a protest against anti-immigration party Alternative for Germany (AfD) in Berlin, Germany, May 27, 2018. /VCG Photo

The main anti-far-right demo was staged by the "Stop the hatred, stop the AfD" alliance, which included political parties, unions, student bodies, migrant advocates and civil society organizations.

Walking in the strong Berlin heat, supporters waved rainbow flags, blew bubbles and carried signs that said "Racism is not the alternative," while chanting "Go away, Nazis" and "the whole of Berlin hates the AfD."

"The AfD is not trying to solve problems, but to divide society," said 48-year-old Knut Haemmerling.

"It's scary to think what will happen if the party gets bigger," added 76-year-old, Syrian-born Yesra Zubaidi.

Protesters march in support of the far-right AfD party in Berlin, Germany, May 27, 2018. /VCG Photo

Organizers of the far-right rally had initially predicted a turnout of 10,000. But Berlin AfD chief Georg Pazderski said many still feared being "stigmatized" for showing their AfD colors.

Founded as an anti-EU party in 2013, the AfD reinvented itself with an anti-immigration stance, securing nearly 13 percent of the vote in last year’s election. It is now Germany’s largest opposition party and holds more than 90 seats in the Bundestag where its presence has changed the tone of debate. ‍

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Source(s): AFP ,Reuters