Thousands took to the streets in Berlin for an "open and solidary society"

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Demonstrators from the "Indivisible" alliance took to the streets on Saturday in Berlin for their goals

Photo: CLEMENS BILAN / EPA

Thousands of people walked peacefully through Berlin on Saturday for “an open society based on solidarity”.

Under this motto, a broad alliance of trade unions, parties and associations called for an "indivisible" demonstration in the capital.

In several blocks on different topics, the train started in the early afternoon in Leipziger Straße and after about two hours it reached the place of the final rally in Karl-Marx-Allee.

According to its own statement, the “Indivisible” alliance brings together around 350 initiatives.

They include trade unions, the human rights organization Amnesty International and the climate movement Fridays for Future.

The action alliance stands up for "solidarity, social justice, human rights and consistent action against the climate crisis," it said in an appeal.

"We want different political priorities and don't let ourselves be played off against each other," said indivisible activist Anna Spangenberg. The politically responsible must "finally tackle the climate crisis consistently and socially just" and seriously fight racism and misanthropy. What is needed is a democracy "which guarantees real participation for everyone and which everyone can help shape".

A spokeswoman for the event assumed that, as expected, around 30,000 people had appeared.

The police estimated the number of participants on Saturday at just under 10,000 people.

She was positive about the course of the event and compliance with hygiene rules among the participants: "We let all 15 blocks pass us," said a police spokeswoman.

The organizers had asked participants in advance to use bicycles and picnic blankets as spacers and to wear masks.

dak / dpa / afp