03:52Hundreds of members of the anti-Islam movement Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the Occident (Pegida) marched through Dresden on Sunday as part of what they announced would be their final anti-migration demonstration. This rally was met with several counter-protests.
Footage captured the pro-Pegida demonstrators carrying flags representing the German Empire and the autonomist Freie Sachsen movement. Pegida leader Lutz Bachmann was seen marching alongside fellow activists.
Earlier, Bachmann had declared that the 250th demonstration in Dresden would mark the end of this chapter for Pegida due to health and financial concerns.
"There have to be limits, economically, things are not getting better in Europe or Germany, things are actually declining, to be honest, the problems are getting bigger, money isn't as easily available anymore," shared one of the participants, Andreas Wodniok.
"After ten years, the energy has somewhat faded, and one must find a new form, It is not as it was announced on the internet that Pegida is dissolving, It will come in a different form," Thomas Walter, a demonstrator, said.
In addition to migration issues, the protesters voiced opposition to German arms supplies to Ukraine, with one demonstrator saying, "This is not our war; this is the war that America is waging against Russia and they are using Ukraine for their war."
Police managed to prevent clashes between the Pegida supporters and counter-protesters, deploying a total of 270 officers, including personnel from Berlin, to maintain security throughout the events.
Pegida movement organise last anti-migration rally in Dresden amid counter-protests
Hundreds of members of the anti-Islam movement Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the Occident (Pegida) marched through Dresden on Sunday as part of what they announced would be their final anti-migration demonstration. This rally was met with several counter-protests.
Footage captured the pro-Pegida demonstrators carrying flags representing the German Empire and the autonomist Freie Sachsen movement. Pegida leader Lutz Bachmann was seen marching alongside fellow activists.
Earlier, Bachmann had declared that the 250th demonstration in Dresden would mark the end of this chapter for Pegida due to health and financial concerns.
"There have to be limits, economically, things are not getting better in Europe or Germany, things are actually declining, to be honest, the problems are getting bigger, money isn't as easily available anymore," shared one of the participants, Andreas Wodniok.
"After ten years, the energy has somewhat faded, and one must find a new form, It is not as it was announced on the internet that Pegida is dissolving, It will come in a different form," Thomas Walter, a demonstrator, said.
In addition to migration issues, the protesters voiced opposition to German arms supplies to Ukraine, with one demonstrator saying, "This is not our war; this is the war that America is waging against Russia and they are using Ukraine for their war."
Police managed to prevent clashes between the Pegida supporters and counter-protesters, deploying a total of 270 officers, including personnel from Berlin, to maintain security throughout the events.
Hundreds of members of the anti-Islam movement Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the Occident (Pegida) marched through Dresden on Sunday as part of what they announced would be their final anti-migration demonstration. This rally was met with several counter-protests.
Footage captured the pro-Pegida demonstrators carrying flags representing the German Empire and the autonomist Freie Sachsen movement. Pegida leader Lutz Bachmann was seen marching alongside fellow activists.
Earlier, Bachmann had declared that the 250th demonstration in Dresden would mark the end of this chapter for Pegida due to health and financial concerns.
"There have to be limits, economically, things are not getting better in Europe or Germany, things are actually declining, to be honest, the problems are getting bigger, money isn't as easily available anymore," shared one of the participants, Andreas Wodniok.
"After ten years, the energy has somewhat faded, and one must find a new form, It is not as it was announced on the internet that Pegida is dissolving, It will come in a different form," Thomas Walter, a demonstrator, said.
In addition to migration issues, the protesters voiced opposition to German arms supplies to Ukraine, with one demonstrator saying, "This is not our war; this is the war that America is waging against Russia and they are using Ukraine for their war."
Police managed to prevent clashes between the Pegida supporters and counter-protesters, deploying a total of 270 officers, including personnel from Berlin, to maintain security throughout the events.