Hundreds of demonstrators gathered at Berlin's Brandenburg Gate on Sunday evening, forming a sea of lights with mobile phone torches and lighters to protest for diversity and against racism. The rally came just days after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz made controversial comments about migration and "city image," sparking widespread criticism and prompting this spontaneous display of public dissent.
Protesters carried homemade signs with messages including "AfD ban now!" "We're happy about all people," and "Friedrich Merz - is that a joke?" while chanting "We, we, we are the city image!" The demonstration, organized under the motto "Firewall up! We are the city image," was called by a coalition including Parents Against Right-Wing Extremism and the organization Hand in Hand, both groups committed to fighting racism and promoting an open, solidaristic society.
Attendance figures varied between organizers and authorities, with rally organizers estimating approximately 5,000 participants while police put the number at between 1,500 and 1,800. The Berlin police reported no incidents during the event, describing the demonstration as proceeding very quietly. The Pariser Platz appeared broadly filled in social media footage, showing a peaceful gathering despite the significant turnout.
Speakers at the event directly challenged Chancellor Merz's recent statements, with one participant stating: "I stand here as someone whose father is Kurdish. Is my father a problem in the city image - or am I?" Another speaker referenced Germany's Basic Law, noting that "human dignity is inviolable - not German dignity," while criticizing what they characterized as the chancellor's adoption of far-right language. The demonstration represented a clear response to political discourse around migration and diversity in Germany's capital.
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