MOSCOW, (Sputnik) — Pegida is unhappy with Western immigration policies as well as with what it claims is a lack of democracy in Europe.
According to the Standard newspaper, the anti-Islamization demonstration gathered around 300 people. Protesters were chanting slogans "We are the people!" and "The demonstration should pass peacefully," according to Georg Nagel, the organizer of Pegida protests in Vienna.
A rally in opposition of Pegida was, according to police, attended by nearly 5,000 people, who chanted "Shoulder to shoulder against racism!" and "Refugees stay — Pegida goes away."
Local law enforcement agencies reported no incidents at the rallies in Vienna so far.
Pegida was founded in Dresden, Germany, in October 2014, and organizes weekly demonstrations to bring attention to what it describes as its fear of an Islamization of Europe. According to the organization, its message is spreading to other European countries, including Spain, the UK, France and Switzerland.
Nagel stated that the Austrian wing of Pegida will not only hold rallies in Vienna, but also in other Austrian cities, promising that their demonstrations will soon sweep Europe.
