Thousands of people have gathered in Germany's capital to protest against a far-right rally called for by the Alternative for Germany (AfD), the country's main opposition party.

An estimated 20,000 counter-demonstrators, including anti-fascists, pro-refugee organisations and LGBTQI groups, took to the streets of Berlin, shouting slogans against the AfD rally, which saw party leaders addressing a crowd of about 5,000.

"Many times during the speeches by AfD leaders you couldn't hear what they were saying because they [counter-demonstrators] were playing loud band music and chanting 'Nazis out'," said Al Jazeera's David Chater, reporting from Berlin.

He added that about 2,000 police officers had been deployed "to make sure there was no trouble".

"In the end, it was a vocal confrontation rather than a violent one," Chater said.

All about the base.



Hundreds of counter-demonstrators already gathering in Berlin near to the capital’s Victory Column. Dozens of clubs, theatres and rights groups from across Berlin will later march against far-right AfD. Say they want to “bass away the AfD”#AfDwegbassen pic.twitter.com/ufo0EHfl4b — Kate Brady (@kbrady90) May 27, 2018

Founded in 2013, the AfD became the first far-right party to enter Germany's Bundestag in decades after securing more than 12 percent in last September's elections on the back of a largely anti-refugee and anti-Islam agenda.

The AfD called the rally in response to German Chancellor Angela Merkel's migration policy and other grievances.

"Parallel (to parliament), we take to the streets and give our members and supporters the chance to actively participate," AfD organiser Guido Reil said at a press conference ahead of Sunday's event, as reported by Deutsche Welle.

"That's very important," he added. "Because we're alternative. It's a new concept."

'Stop the hate'

Before the rally, Stoppt den Hass (Stop the Hate), an umbrella of anti-AfD protest groups, had said in a statement that it intended to block the far-right march from reaching its final destination.

"The AfD blames Muslims and displaced people for all evils, from poverty to sexual violence," Stoppt den Hass said on its website.

The rise of Germany's far right has coincided with a spike in anti-Semitism and attacks targeting refugee accommodations throughout the country.

In early May, a senior government official, Felix Klein, accused the AfD of creating a political environment in which anti-Semitism is tolerated.

"I don't want to say the AfD is anti-Semitic, per se, but it tolerates representatives who are demanding a new policy of remembrance," Klein told news website watson.de at the time.

"They initiated this discussion about drawing a line (under the Holocaust), and that is very dangerous because it helps make anti-Semitism presentable again."

German authorities documented more than 3,500 attacks on refugees and their accommodations in 2016, and another 2,219 were recorded in 2017.

Although the AfD was initially founded as a Eurosceptic party, it was only able to break the five-percent threshold to enter the Bundestag after shifting its focus to migration and Islam.

Al Jazeera's Chater said the party had caused a "real impact" in German politics, particularly in the Bundestag, where the party holds 92 seats.

"It is the first time since World War II that we are beginning to hear racist, anti-Semitic, xenophobic and anti-Islamic comments, not only in the parliament but of course during these rallies on the streets of Berlin, and that is what has incensed these counter-protesters," Chater said.

"The whole political complexion of Germany has changed since this party [the AfD] became the main opposition party."</s>Supporters of the nationalist Alternative for Germany party marched through central Berlin to protest against Chancellor Angela Merkel's government on Sunday, while a heavy police presence kept the marchers away from a raft of counter-demonstrations.

Police said several thousand people turned out for the demonstration organized by Alternative for Germany, known by its German acronym AfD.

A variety of counter-demonstrations attracted several thousand participants each, police said.

The AfD event opened with German flags, placards such as "No Islam in Germany" and chants of "Merkel must go" at Berlin's central train station.</s>Berlin’s clubs and clubbers brought their thumping techno to the streets on Sunday to go head-to-head with a rally organized by the right-wing political party Alternative for Germany (AfD).

The AfD rally of around 5,000 marched from the city’s central station to the Brandenburg Gate, but found themselves outnumbered five to one, and their chants of “we are the people” drowned out by the 25,000 counter-protesters and sound systems blasting music. The counter-demonstration was organized by the “Stop the hatred, stop the AfD” alliance, a broad collection of political parties, unions, and civil society organizations.

The AfD, which is virulently anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim, swept into Germany’s parliament for the first time after the general election last September. It is now the third-largest party in the Bundestag. It initially said it expected a turnout of 10,000 at its “for the future of Germany” march on Sunday, but later revised that number down to 5,000. Around 2,000 police kept the peace Sunday, with just one minor injury reported.

Around 100 clubs organized the “Bass Away the AFD” demonstration, with DJs playing on trucks and floats on the Spree river. Berlin has long been known for its dance club culture, and the atmosphere was not unlike the famous German love parade techno festival, which originated in the city. But this time the message was serious: The AfD, with its racism and hatred, has no place in Berlin.

“The Berlin club culture is everything that Nazis are not,” the group said in a statement. “We are progressive, queer, feminist, anti-racist, inclusive, colorful, and we have unicorns.”</s>BERLIN: Thousands of demonstrators for and against the far-right faced off in mass rival rallies in Berlin on Sunday, where calls of "We are the people" were countered with "Go away, Nazis" and techno beats.

Police, who were out in force to keep the groups apart, said the march organised by the anti-immigrant, anti-Islam Alternative for Germany (AfD) drew over 5,000 supporters while the counter-demonstrators numbered more than 25,000.

The rallies passed off largely peacefully, although Berlin police said on Twitter that they had to use pepper spray to stop "demonstrators from trying to break down barriers" at one square. Elsewhere, two dumpsters were set alight with fireworks and rolled onto the street, injuring a female demonstrator, they wrote.

AfD supporters kicked off their march "for the future of Germany" shortly after midday at Berlin´s main train station, before walking to the iconic Brandenburg Gate, with many waving Germany's black, red and gold flag.

Along the route, their chants of "Merkel must go" and "We are the people" were occasionally drowned out by whistles, jeers and outstretched middle fingers from counter-demonstrators in side streets blocked off by police.

The AfD march marked the first public show of strength by the nationalist outfit since it became the largest opposition party, surfing a wave of anger over Chancellor Angela Merkel's decision to allow in large numbers of mainly Muslim refugees at the height of Europe's migrant crisis.

"Now we know that many Islamists were among the refugees and they have no respect for women," 41-year-old AfD member and teacher Christine Moessl told AFP. Addressing the crowd, AfD chairman Alexander Gauland said "Merkel is not Germany". "We love our country. And we want to pass it on to our children the way our grandfathers did for us." AfD deputy leader Beatrix von Storch, the granddaughter of Adolf Hitler's finance minister, told demonstrators that Germany was "a prime example of failed integration".

Organisers of the far-right rally had initially predicted a turnout of 10,000, before saying they would be happy with some 5,000 people. Berlin AfD chief Georg Pazderski said that many still feared being "stigmatised" for showing their AfD colours, even after the party took nearly 13 percent of the vote and won its first seats in the national parliament in last year´s elections.

Meanwhile, thousands of others joined a slate of anti-AfD demos, taking to the streets and the water to make themselves heard. The main demo was staged by the "Stop the hatred, stop the AfD" alliance, which included political parties, unions, student bodies, migrant advocates and civil society organisations.

Walking in the strong Berlin heat, supporters waved rainbow flags, blew bubbles and carried signs that said "Racism is not the alternative", while chanting "Go away, Nazis" and "the whole of Berlin hates the AfD". "The AfD is not trying to solve problems, but to divide society," said 48-year-old Knut Haemmerling. "It's scary to think what will happen if the party gets bigger," added 76-year-old, Syrian-born Yesra Zubaidi.

One of the loudest counter-demos was organised by some 100 clubs from Berlin´s legendary techno scene, who used boats and floats on the river Spree and a convoy of DJ-carrying trucks to "bass away" the AfD. "The Berlin club culture is everything that Nazis are not," they said in a statement. "We are progressive, queer, feminist, anti-racist, inclusive, colourful and we have unicorns."

Berlin police had deployed 2,000 officers, drafted in from across Germany, to keep the peace. Ahead of the demos, members of the far-left extremist Antifa movement had on their website called for "chaos", urging sympathisers "to sabotage the AfD rally using all necessary means". Founded in 2013 as an anti-euro party, the AfD rose to prominence by capitalising on widespread anger over the arrival of over a million asylum seekers in Germany since 2015.

It now holds more than 90 seats in the Bundestag where its presence has changed the tone of debate. Just this month, AfD co-leader Alice Weidel earned herself a formal rebuke from the parliamentary speaker for describing immigrants as "headscarf girls, welfare-claiming, knife-wielding men and other good-for-nothings". Merkel's left-right coalition government has responded to the AfD's rise by tightening asylum policies, but the party continues to climb in opinion polls.</s>Thousands of anti-racism campaigners, left-wingers and techno lovers filled the streets of Berlin yesterday to rival a rally called by the far-right AfD party, with police deploying in force to keep the peace.

Uniting under the banner “Stop the hatred”, counter-demonstrators said they wanted to drown out the march by the anti-immigration, anti-Islam Alternative for Germany (AfD).

But AfD members have accused some opponents of threatening to use violence.

Shortly after midday, about 1 000 AfD supporters gathered at Berlin’s main train station for the start of their march “for the future of Germany”.

The march marks the first public show of strength by the nationalist outfit since it became the largest opposition party.

“I came because we can’t go on like this with Merkel,” 47-year-old AfD member Christian Neubauer said.

“It can’t be that the government wastes all this money on refugees while our elderly live in poverty.”

After predicting 10 000 AfD supporters would show up, organisers later scaled back expectations to “at least 2 500 to 5 000”. Berlin AfD chief Georg Pazderski said ahead of the march that many still feared being stigmatised for showing their AfD colours, even after the party took nearly 13% of the vote and won its first seats in the national parliament in last year’s elections.

In the heart of Berlin, meanwhile, around 3 000 people began gathering for a slate of counter-demos, with organisers saying they intended to dwarf the far-right turnout.

“We won’t leave the streets to the AfD,” Nora Berneis of the “Stop the hatred, stop the AfD” alliance, which includes political parties, unions, student bodies, migrant advocates and civil society organisations, said.

One of the most colourful counterdemos was organised by 100 clubs from Berlin’s legendary techno scene, who were using boats and floats on the River Spree and a convoy of DJ-carrying trucks to “bass away” the AfD.

“The Berlin club culture is everything that Nazis are not,” they said.

“We are progressive, queer, feminist, anti-racist, inclusive, colourful and we have unicorns.”

More than 13 000 dance fans said they would attend.</s>Thousands of demonstrators for and against the far-right faced off in mass rival rallies in Berlin on Sunday, where calls of 'We are the people' were countered with 'Go away, Nazis'.

The march organised by the anti-immigrant, anti-Islam Alternative for Germany (AfD) drew over 5,000 supporters while the counter-demonstrators numbered more than 25,000, police said.

The rallies passed off largely peacefully, although Berlin police said on Twitter that they had to use pepper spray to stop 'demonstrators from trying to break down barriers' at one square.

AfD supporters kicked off their march 'for the future of Germany' shortly after midday at Berlin's main train station, before walking to the Brandenburg Gate, with many waving Germany's black, red and gold flag.

Along the route, their chants of 'Merkel must go' and 'We are the people' were occasionally drowned out by whistles, jeers and outstretched middle fingers from counter-demonstrators in side streets blocked off by police.

At last year's elections the AfD became the third-largest party in the Bundestag, winning 92 seats. Because of the 'grand coalition' between the two major parties the AfD is currently the largest opposition party.

Founded as an anti-EU party during the euro crisis in 2013, it reinvented itself with an anti-immigration stance after Merkel's decision to open Germany's borders to more than a million refugees in 2015.

'Now we know that many Islamists were among the refugees and they have no respect for women,' 41-year-old AfD member and teacher Christine Moessl told AFP.

Addressing the crowd, AfD chairman Alexander Gauland said: 'Merkel is not Germany. We love our country. And we want to pass it on to our children the way our grandfathers did for us.'

AfD deputy leader Beatrix von Storch, the granddaughter of Adolf Hitler's finance minister, told demonstrators that Germany was 'a prime example of failed integration'.

Some of the counter-demonstrators were from the city's club scene, with one group aiming to 'Bass the AfD away' with music blasting from speakers mounted on trucks.

'We want to be loud enough to drown out the racist speeches,' an activist named Rosa told RBB public television. The thudding techno beat echoed across the city centre on Sunday afternoon.

Another group of anti-AfD protesters were on a boat on the Spree river holding up placards saying 'You stink!'</s>BERLIN — Supporters of the nationalist Alternative for Germany party marched through central Berlin to protest Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government Sunday and were kept away from a raft of counterdemonstrations by a heavy police presence.

Police said more than 5,000 people turned out for the demonstration organized by the anti-immigration Alternative for Germany, known by its German acronym AfD. A variety of counterprotests against the far right attracted more than 25,000 people, they said.

The AfD event opened with German flags, placards such as “No Islam in Germany” and chants of “Merkel must go” outside Berlin’s central train station. The party’s supporters then marched to the landmark Brandenburg Gate. Opponents chanted “Nazis out” from the other side of the monument.

Some of the counterprotesters took to rafts on the Spree river, within sight of the train station. Groups organizing protests against AfD included artists and a coalition of Berlin music clubs hoping to “blow away” the party with loud techno beats.

About 2,000 police officers were in place to prevent clashes. The march concluded without significant unrest.

AfD won 12.6 percent of the vote to enter Germany’s national parliament last year on anti-immigrant and anti-establishment sentiment. It is now the largest of four opposition parties after the country’s two biggest parties agreed to continue a centrist “grand coalition” under Merkel earlier this year.

Its march Sunday, an unusual move for a German political party, was headlined “Germany’s Future.” An AfD regional leader, Andreas Kalbitz, proclaimed that “this is a signal” and argued that it shows “AfD is the center of society.”

In parliament, AfD’s novice lawmakers have sometimes struggled to grasp basic procedures and stood out with blunt attacks on minorities, particularly Muslims, who made up the majority of the more than 1 million asylum-seekers to enter Germany in 2015 and 2016. Recent polls have put the party’s support around the same level as in last year’s election.

Prominent AfD lawmaker Beatrix von Storch told Sunday’s demonstrators that “the vital question for us is: freedom or Islamization?”

Among the protesters was Silke Langmacker, an accountant, who carried a sign reading “Taxpayers First.”

“We are here to stop the uncontrolled influx into the German welfare system,” she said. “The refugees must return to Syria and rebuild their country there.”

Geir Moulson is an Associated Press writer.</s>People stage a protest against Anti-immigration party Alternative for Germany (AfD) in Berlin Thomson Reuters BERLIN (Reuters) - Some 5,000 supporters of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) marched through Berlin on Sunday, but they were heavily outnumbered by anti-AfD demonstrations, including one from the city's club scene which blasted techno music across the capital.

The AfD's anti-immigration, anti-European Union and anti-Muslim messages helped it become the third largest party in the German Bundestag in last September's vote but it has had little impact on parliamentary debate since then.

The AfD demonstrators, bussed in from around Germany, marched from Berlin's main station, down the banks of the Spree river to the Brandenburg Gate near the German parliament.

But there were around 20,000 anti-AfD protesters - according to police estimates - most of them younger people, highlighting the divisions that have emerged in Germany since the 2015 refugee crisis.

"Our children, our country, our future: that is why we are here and we are the only party with this program," AfD leader Alexander Gauland, speaking to supporters at a rally near the Brandenburg Gate, where the march ended.

The party, founded as an anti-EU party in 2013, reinvented itself with an anti-immigration stance after Chancellor Angela Merkel's decision to open the Germany's borders to more than a million refugees in 2015.

The AfD supporters, mostly older, waved German and AfD flags and carried placards demanding "Democracy not Merkelatorship."

Berliners responded with at least 13 registered counter-demonstrations. These included one by the city's club scene, which put on a techno music party, aiming to "Bass the AfD away" with music blasting from speakers on 20 public address trucks.

"We want to be loud enough to drown out the racist speeches," an activist named Rosa told RBB public television. The thudding techno beat echoed across the city center on Sunday afternoon.

Another group of anti-AfD protesters were on a boat on the Spree river holding up placards saying "You stink!"

The AfD is now the largest opposition party following the deal between Merkel's conservatives and the Social Democrats to renew their grand coalition.

As a result, the AfD has a host of powerful committee chairmanships, but has so far failed to capitalize on them.

Sunday's protests were broadly peaceful, with only one minor injury reported amid a heavy police presence.</s>Supporters of the nationalist Alternative for Germany party have marched through central Berlin to protest against Chancellor Angela Merkel ’s government.

Supporters of the nationalist Alternative for Germany party have marched through central Berlin to protest against Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government.

Police said several thousand people turned out for the demonstration organised by Alternative for Germany, known by its German acronym AfD. A variety of counter-demonstrations attracted several thousand participants each, police said.

The AfD event opened with German flags, placards such as “No Islam in Germany” and chants of “Merkel must go” at Berlin’s central train station. The party’s supporters marched from the rally toward the landmark Brandenburg Gate.

Some of the counter-protesters took to rafts on the Spree river, within sight of the train station. Activists protest against racism on ships on the Spree river in Berlin (Markus Schreiber/AP) Groups organising protests against AfD included artists and a coalition of Berlin music clubs hoping to “blow away” the party with loud techno beats.

About 2,000 police officers were in place to prevent trouble, including reinforcements from other parts of Germany. AfD won 12.6% of the vote to enter Germany’s national parliament last year on anti-migrant and anti-establishment sentiment.

It is now the largest of four opposition parties after the country’s two biggest parties finally agreed to continue a centrist “grand coalition” under Ms Merkel earlier this year.

An AfD regional leader, Andreas Kalbitz, proclaimed that “this is a signal” and argued that it shows “AfD is the centre of society”.</s>Germany divided: 25,000 pro and anti-AfD protestors face off in Berlin
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An estimated 20,000 people protest against an Alternative for Germany rally attracting 5,000 demonstrators in Berlin; 2,000 police are deployed.