group PEGIDA staged a silent march in Birmingham as clashes broke out at twin rallies in France and the Netherlands
Supporters of the anti-Islam group PEGIDA staged a silent march in Birmingham as clashes broke out at twin rallies in France and the Netherlands.
About 200 demonstrators gathered for the inaugural PEGIDA rally in the UK, half as many as expected by police, which took place on industrial estate miles from the city center.
The rally appeared to pass without incident as dozens of riot police kept PEGIDA supporters away from about 60 anti-fascism activists at Birmingham International rail station.
Many demonstrators held placards featuring Donald Trump, saying: “Trump is right”, a possible reference to the Republican candidate for the US presidential election’s controversial call for a halt on Muslim immigration to the US.
PEGIDA was caught in a series of scandals, prompting mass resignation among its leaders and the movement’s disappearance from the German political scene last year.
The far-right movement, however, has made a comeback in the wake of the refugee influx to Europe.
