Thousands take part in Easter marches in Germany

DPA
·2 min read
People with a banner reading "Warmongers to the front" take part in the traditional Easter march under the slogan "Warlike - Never Again". Fabian Sommer/dpa
People with a banner reading "Warmongers to the front" take part in the traditional Easter march under the slogan "Warlike - Never Again". Fabian Sommer/dpa

According to preliminary figures from the Peace Co-operative Network, several thousand people took part in the traditional Easter marches across Germany on Saturday.

"We are satisfied with the turnout," said network spokesman Kristian Golla. The number was roughly at the same level as last year.

According to a preliminary overview by the Peace Co-operative, more than 10,000 people took to the streets throughout Germany in favour of peace and disarmament.

The largest marches were in Berlin with around 3,500 participants, Stuttgart with around 2,000 and Bremen with around 1,000 people. Around 700 people took part in Cologne and 500 in Munich, said Golla.

According to the network, around 70 events were planned across Germany on Holy Saturday.

According to the organizers, the central themes of this year's Easter marches, which have the motto "Now more than ever - together for peace," are demands for diplomatic solutions to Russia's war against Ukraine and the war in Gaza, which violate international law, nuclear disarmament and criticism of rising arms spending.

People with a sign reading "Greens to the Eastern Front" take part in the traditional Easter march under the slogan "Warlike - Never Again". Fabian Sommer/dpa
People with a sign reading "Greens to the Eastern Front" take part in the traditional Easter march under the slogan "Warlike - Never Again". Fabian Sommer/dpa
People display signs reading "Friendship with Russia Viva Palestine", "Genocide in Gaza" at the traditional Easter march under the motto "Warlike - Never Again". T Fabian Sommer/dpa
People display signs reading "Friendship with Russia Viva Palestine", "Genocide in Gaza" at the traditional Easter march under the motto "Warlike - Never Again". T Fabian Sommer/dpa
People gather on Roncalliplatz for the Easter march under the slogan "For a civil turnaround - end wars, stop rearmament!". Christian Knieps/dpa
People gather on Roncalliplatz for the Easter march under the slogan "For a civil turnaround - end wars, stop rearmament!". Christian Knieps/dpa
People holding Palestinian flags and flags with doves of peace gather on Roncalliplatz for the Easter march under the motto "For a civil turnaround - end wars, stop rearmament!". Christian Knieps/dpa
People holding Palestinian flags and flags with doves of peace gather on Roncalliplatz for the Easter march under the motto "For a civil turnaround - end wars, stop rearmament!". Christian Knieps/dpa