MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Hundreds of activists first gathered at Nuremberg's Jakobsplatz, and then marched peacefully down the city streets, carrying Germany's national flags and placards, which read "Non-violence and unity against religious wars on German soil," "Citizens! Who falls asleep during democracy, wakes up in the dictatorship," "Stop the Islamization!" according to the social media posts of the activist group.
Dozens of people, divided in smaller groups, reportedly gathered at the opposite side of the Jakobsplatz in a counter-protest.
Pegida's opponents said it was the 20th movement's planned rally since the beginning of 2015, and initially attempted to block the way of the protesters, according to social media posts.
Pegida, an acronym for Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamization of the West, emerged in October 2014 in the eastern German city of Dresden, where it attracted hundreds and later thousands of supporters during weekly anti-Islamization marches.