Thousands Rally in Berlin Against Far-Right Extremism

Thousands of people are demonstrating in Berlin on Saturday against right-wing extremism and for social cohesion. Seven protest marches are converging on the Red Town Hall, where a final rally is scheduled for around 4 p.m. Police estimated around 13,000 participants in the afternoon, with the largest single march being a bicycle demonstration that started with about 5,000 people at the Victory Column. Organizers had expected 30,000 attendees, and 1,800 police officers are deployed. A coalition of nearly 100 organizations, initiatives, and unions called for the demonstration, with similar events taking place in over 30 other German cities. The protests are prompted by the AfD's election victory in Saxony-Anhalt and upcoming elections in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.