Berlin Stages Large Protest vs Far-Right Politics

Several thousand people gathered in the German capital over the weekend for a rally against far-right politics, Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa) reported.

Photo Insert: Representatives of the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB) at the peaceful protest

Turnout at previous marches organized by the Unteilbar ("Indivisible") movement drew tens of thousands of participants. Berlin police estimated 30,000 people.

"We have to manage the crowd, but we don't expect any violent confrontations," a spokesperson said.

Some 350 initiatives participated in the protest. Among them were the German Trade Union Confederation, the climate movement Fridays for Future, and the Berlin Tenants' Association.

German political parties - including the Social Democrats, Greens, and the hard-left Die Linke - also joined.

The country is just weeks away from the September 26 parliamentary vote that will determine the chancellor to succeed Angela Merkel. US whistleblower Edward Snowden will speak to the demonstrators via video link, organizers said.

Several protests in Germany have been staged under the Unteilbar umbrella to show solidarity against anti-Semitism and right-wing violence.

WEEKLY FEATURE : PAL READY TO SOAR WITH PANDEMIC