In response to mass rape perpetuated by Muslim men against German women over New Year’s eve, PEGIDA (Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of Europe) organized a demonstration. It was held in a “multi-cultural” district of west Germany that has been supportive of Merkel’s open door immigration policy. Even so, 3,000 people turned out on short notice for the rally.
Breitbart reports that the demonstration began with speeches, including announcements that alcohol, glass bottles, and face-coverings were banned. Despite PEGIDA’s attempts to ensure a peaceful event, a small number of attendees (from outside of Cologne) began to cause trouble by throwing fireworks. This prompted the police to stop the march in order to deal with the perpetrators, which they did by employing a number of tactics including containment, use of a water cannon, and pepper spray.
But it also appears that some, if not all, of those stirring up trouble may have been undercover police plants who try to entice people to engage in bad behavior. Despite that, PEGIDA had only praise, empathy, and appreciation for the police, while also finding it amusing that an extremely large number of officers were on site for the demonstration in comparison to the minimal force of 143 officers expected to maintain order in Cologne on New Year’s eve.
PEGIDA thanked members of law enforcement for protecting them from viol