Thousands Demonstrate in Germany against Anti-Refugee Rally
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Thousands of demonstrators assembled in Leipzig to call for peaceful coexistence and tolerance in response to a simultaneous anti-refugee rally conducted by the anti-Muslim, LEGIDA - the local chapter of xenophobic group PEGIDA.
With candles in hand, the anti-LEGIDA protesters on Monday night formed a "chain of lights" which stretched for 3.5 kilometers (2.2 miles) around the city center. Up to 2,800 people took part in the protest against the xenophobic group, according to observers.
"We have to take to the streets so long as people continue to make racist arguments," said Leipzig's Mayor Burkhard Jung during the rally.
He said people in the German state of Saxony have "a problem with xenophobia" and that they need to catch up in terms of openness and tolerance, Deutsche Welle reported.
At the same time, he condemned all forms of violence saying violence is "the wrong approach in a democracy."
LEGIDA draws thousands
LEGIDA members also took to the streets on Monday to commemorate the first anniversary of the founding of their chapter, as well as to protest against the recent New Year's Eve alleged sexual assaults in Cologne.
"We are the people" "Resistance!" and "Deport them!" chanted the sign and flag-toting LEGIDA crowd. "Refugees not welcome!" read one sign.
Dresden-based PEGIDA called on its members to also take part in the Leipzig protests. Even PEGIDA leader Lutz Bachmann was in attendance. According to observers, between 1,500 and 2,000 LEGIDA members took part in the demonstration.
Around 2,000 police were deployed to prevent clashes between left- and right-wing supporters.
In another area of the city, riots broke out when around hundreds of soccer "hooligans" started rioting in the district of Connewitz. The neighborhood is considered to be the stronghold of the leftist scene in Leipzig.
Rioters allegedly set of pyrotechnics and threw rocks at display windows.
In a tweet following the riot, police reported, "We have arrested around 250 people from the 'right-wing clientele' after the riots. The situation is under control."
