Germany: PEGIDA supporters rally against refugee policy in Dresden

Thousands of PEGIDA (Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the West) protesters gathered on Neumarkt Square in Dresden, Monday, to march through the city centre in protest against government policies on Europe's ongoing migrant and refugee crisis. The anti-Islam, anti-immigration, far-right protesters walked through the streets of Dresden, carrying German flags and chanting anti-immigrant slogans. A group of left-wing activists organised a counter-protest chanting "Refugees are welcome here." Police officers separated the two groups of protesters with police vehicles, aimed at preventing PEGIDA supporters from clashing with the counter-protesters. No incidents were reported. Anti-immigrant and anti-Islam protests have dogged Germany for the last year, with a spike in hate crimes against refugees over the last few months as Europe's refugee crisis worsens.