An anniversary party planned in eastern Germany Sunday is expected to generate counter protests and a massive police presence, as the anti-migrant Pegida organization is behind the event.
Pegida has made a splash on the German political scene since its members first marched two years ago in the eastern city of Dresden, spawning similar groups in other cities.
The marches are marked by the members’ aversion to the spread of Muslim culture, worries that the political status quo is not working for them, and suspicions that mainstream media is not accurately reporting their arguments.
A march last year to mark the first anniversary of the organization’s activities prompted scuffles between the group’s members and its detractors.
Dresden police chief Horst Kretzschmer appealed on all sides to respect one another’s right to express themselves freely and peacefully, but also to do so “with decency and respect.”
Opponents of Pegida said they were upset that the city is taking such efforts to make sure that Pegida marchers are not confronted with dissent.
“For Pegida’s birthday, the Dresden authorities are rolling out the red carpet once again and making sure counterdemonstrations are nowhere to be seen or heard,” said Andre Schollbach, a member of the hard-left Left party in the local state legislature.
The march is scheduled for 12 pm (1000 GMT), in the city’s Theaterplatz. It had been originally set for Monday, but the square in front of the city’s famous Semperoper had already been booked by opponents of the group.
Dresden plans to celebrate “openness to the world” at the event on Monday.