- Title: Tens of thousands peacefully attend Chemnitz anti-racism concert
- Date: 3rd September 2018
- Summary: CHEMNITZ, GERMANY (SEPTEMBER 3, 2018) (REUTERS) TOP SHOT ACROSS TENS OF THOUSANDS OF VISITORS OF OPEN AIR ANTI-RACISM CONCERT IN CHEMNITZ PLACARDS READING (English and German): "I AM BECAUSE WE ARE! #SAY NO TO RACISM" AND (German): "HATE IS NO ALTERNATIVE" TOP SHOT OF CROWD PLACARD READING (German): "NAZIS ARE MORE ANNOYING THAN WASPS" WITH CROSSED OUT WASP
- Embargoed: 17th September 2018 18:49
- Keywords: anti-racism concert Chemnitz far-right protests
- Location: CHEMNITZ, GERMANY
- City: CHEMNITZ, GERMANY
- Country: Germany
- Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment,Music
- Reuters ID: LVA0018W2O407
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:One week after a deadly stabbing in Chemnitz led to violent protests and hostility towards foreigners, tens of thousands of people attended a spontaneously organised anti-racism concert in the eastern German city on Monday (September 3) evening.
Close to an hour after German bands like Die Toten Hosen and others started performing at the "#we are more" event, the city on its website estimated the number of visitors at 50,000.
One week ago to the day, far-right demonstrators clashed with leftist protesters in Chemnitz after an Iraqi and a Syrian were arrested over the fatal stabbing that had triggered the violent demonstrations.
State and local officials at the time appealed for calm as thousands of people took to the streets and Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokesman said Germany would not tolerate "vigilante justice".
The atmosphere on Monday evening was calm and festive as locals said their city was not far-right and that they had no sympathy for what had happened in recent days.
The arrival of huge numbers of migrants from the Middle East three years ago has fuelled support for far-right groups such as PEGIDA and the Alternative for Germany (AfD), now the main opposition party in parliament. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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