MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The "Solidarity without limits" group marched from Dresden's train station to the city center, accompanied by heavy police presence to prevent clashes with Pegida members, before starting a rally on the Theaterplatz Square, Die Welt reported.
WATCH LIVE: #PEGIDA rally & counter-protest in Dresden, Germany https://t.co/rnCQCPfvpj pic.twitter.com/J2oR0Jqk6P
— RT (@RT_com) 6 февраля 2016
The "Solidarity without limits" group comprises faith communities, alliances, parties and trade unions.
The demonstration, reportedly numbering up to 2,000, comes ahead of Pegida's main rally in Dresden.
Around 2000 people take part in the #Antifa protest against #Pegida in #Dresden. #actionday0602 #dd0602 pic.twitter.com/hQaRpKnhaz
— ѕyndιcalιѕт (@syndicalisms) 6 февраля 2016
Other Pegida rallies are due to be held in Britain, Switzerland and across Central and Eastern European member states of the European Union.
Pegida, an acronym for Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamization of the West, began organizing rallies in its home city of Dresden, in October 2014, attracting hundreds and later thousands of supporters.
The far-right German movement gained support in many member states of the European Union amid rising anti-migrant sentiment as Europe faces its biggest refugee crisis since World War II.
