PEGIDA
Patriotische Europäer gegen die Islamisierung des Abendlandes (PEGIDA, in English: "Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamization of the West") is a controversial German political movement based in Dresden.[1][2] It was started in October 2014 by Lutz Bachmann. Thousands of people have joined public demonstrations against the "Islamization of Europe".[3] German leaders have termed it xenophobia. Larger German counter-demonstrations against Pegida, estimated at about 30,000 people, have taken place in Stuttgart, Hamburg, Cologne and Berlin.[4] Joining those speaking out against Pegida are the Roman Catholic, Protestant churches and several social groups.[3] Tommy Robinson founded a Pegida offshoot group.[5]
PEGIDA Media
Alternate logo used by Pegida. Slogans such as "Violence-free and united against religious and proxy wars on German soil" are commonplace at Pegida rallies.
Pegida demonstration on 12 January 2015 after the Charlie Hebdo shooting
Pegida keynote speaker Akif Pirinçci, who has been charged with incitement to hatred
Variant of the "Wirmer flag" proposed in 1944 by anti-Nazi resistance member Josef Wirmer that is often used by members of the movement
Floodlights of Cologne Cathedral being switched off in protest against a Pegida march on 5 January 2015
Demonstration against Pegida in Cologne on 21 January 2015. The big banner reads "we stand in the way (of racism)", a popular anti racist slogan in Germany.
References
- ↑ Rachel Lau (6 March 2015). "Controversial German anti-Islam group to protest in Montreal". Global News/Shaw Media. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
- ↑ Erik Olsen (11 February 2015). "Anti-Immigration Movement Splits Germany". The New York Times. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Alison Smale (5 January 2015). Anti-Immigration Rallies in Germany Defy Calls to Desist. https://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/06/world/europe/pegida-rally-dresden-germany.html?_r=0. Retrieved 6 January 2015.
- ↑ Kate Connolly (6 January 2015). German leaders condemn xenophobia after Pegida protests. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/06/germany-pegida-protests-dresden-immigration. Retrieved 6 January 2015.
- ↑ Ebner, Julia (1 May 2017). "The far right thrives on global networks. They must be fought online and off - Julia Ebner" – via www.theguardian.com.