Tens of thousands protest against far-right ahead of Germany election
Berlin gay parade against far right
Berlin's gay community held a colourful procession through central Berlin on Saturday, calling for their rights to be respected, a week before the parliamentary elections.
"Kisses for all, but not for the AfD," was inscribed on placards in reference to the far-right party currently polling at 20% but rejected by the mainstream parties. Others read: "Choose love" or "We're queer, but we're staying here."
A police spokeswoman put the turnout at around 6,000. The procession was held under the banner "Christopher Street Day," the same as Pride in most other countries. The name refers to a 1969 incident in New York's Greenwich Village at the Stonewall Inn.
Andre Lehmann, a spokesman for the organizers, put the number at more than 15,000. "The atmosphere is great," Lehmann said, as the demonstrators braved icy temperatures.
The aim of the demonstration was to show that gay rights were non-negotiable in a democracy, he said.
Demos in Frankfurt, Dusseldorf, Hamburg
In Frankfurt, more than 15,000 came out to protest against right-wing extremism under the rubric "Choose love for as long as you still can," according to the police estimate. Organizers put the number at 20,000.
In Osnabrück, up to 3,000 people marched through the city, while a demonstration in Braunschweig drew 2,000 people. Police said the protests were peaceful.
A pride parade in Hanover drew more than 800 people marching for gay rights and democracy and a similar rally in Hamburg drew some 3,800.
An anti-AfD protest in the western city of Dusseldorf drew around 13,000 people by afternoon, with the numbers still growing, according to police. A spokesman said the demonstration was proceeding peacefully.
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