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(BERLIN) – Tens of thousands of people protested against racism and discrimination on Saturday in Berlin, on the sidelines of growing concern over Germany 's growing far – right.
A wide range of groups, including refugee organizations, gay rights and Muslim organizations, supported the "indivisible" protest in the heart of the German capital under the slogan "Solidarity instead of exclusion" – for an open and free society ".
The German election of last year saw the entry into the national parliament of the right alternative party for Germany. The anti-migration violence that took place a few weeks ago in the city of Chemnitz, in the east of the country, added to the concerns.
The organizers said that at least 150,000 people showed up on Saturday. There was no immediate estimate of the police crowd.
Foreign Minister Heiko Maas told the Funke press group that he had hailed "a big signal" stating that "the majority of our country stands for tolerance and openness."
The local branch of the conservative party of Chancellor Angela Merkel did not support the demonstration. Stefan Evers, a senior official, said his supporters included various "questionable organizations".
