DDHK News, Germany - Thousands of Germans in four cities demonstrated on Monday (5/1) against anti-Islamic demonstrations in Dresden. The Cologne church has turned off the lights outside the cathedral so that the anti-Muslim group PEGIDA demonstrators stop their racist actions.
Reported by the site VOA Indonesia, organizers of demonstrations in Berlin, Stuttgart, Cologne and Dresden said they were demonstrating against racism and xenophobia, as well as pushing a message of tolerance.
Churches, businesses, Cologne city power companies and other public facilities are planning to turn off electricity in their buildings and facilities to show solidarity with the demonstrators who oppose the PEGIDA - Patriotic Europeans against Islamization of the West demonstration.
In the past three months, the number of PEGIDA demonstrators in the eastern city of Dresden - a city which is also home to a number of immigrants or Muslim residents - has swelled from hundreds to 17.500 before last Christmas. Police predict a similar number will gather at Monday night's demonstration.
In her New Year's address, German Chancellor Angela Merkela urged Germans to stay away from the demonstrations in Dresden. "When the PEGIDA demonstrators shouted the word" we are the people ", what they actually meant was" you are not included because of your skin color and religion, "said Merkel.
Demonstrations in Dresden have sparked a number of PEGIDA demonstrations that are smaller than PEGIDA demonstrations elsewhere, including planned demonstrations in Berlin and Cologne Monday night where hundreds of people are expected to attend. In contrast more than 10 thousand counter-demonstrators are expected to crowd Berlin, two thousand in Cologne and another five thousand in Stuttgart where no PEGIDA demonstrations are planned.
Cologne's famous cathedral leader - Norbert Feldhoff - said he would keep the lights on the outside of the cathedral turned off so PEGIDA demonstrators would think twice about their demonstration.
Cologne City Hall and several other historic churches and buildings also said they would turn off the lights. Meanwhile, electricity company Rhein-Energie said it would turn off the lights of the city's bridge.
In Dresden, the Volkswagen automaker said it would turn off the lights at the glass-walled factory to underscore the company's principle of "an open, free and democratic society". (voaindonesia.com). *
