This is a photograph taken today, 11-23-15, by Siefried Daebritz. See more here.
At 6:30 in the evening, German time, the Dresden Theaterplatz fills up, with carols playing over the loudspeakers, such as "Jingle bells, Dingalingaling." On an LED screen it reads: "We are not a stage for xenophobia."
At 6:42 the Pegida anthem resounds. In the past few weeks, observers at the demo say there are at least 25,000 people on the street. The police will not give an official figure anymore. Today's speakers will be Siegfried Daebritz and Lutz Bachmann. Tatyana Festerling will not speak, but a short video by her in front of the Berlin Chancellery was shown to the crowd.
6:50 Lutz Bachmann opened the rally with a statement on the cancellation of Xavier Naidoo as Germany's representative to the 2016 European Song Contest based on complaints that some of his song content is antisemitic and homophobic - calling it a scandal and the result of "an antidemocratic and fascist octopus" in Germany.
Bachmann's speech is a sweeping attack on the media and politics. He cites the Central Council Chairman of the Jews, Josef Schuster, who has just said the very things he, Bachmann, has been saying about the massive illegal immigration and which led to outrage against Pegida.
7:02 Bachmann asks "Do terrorists take a Christmas break?" and advises the tourism chief of Dresden, former FDP [Free Democrats] politician Lohmeier, to be removed from office for asking Pegida to take a break at Christmas time. Bachmann read out his response to the FDP which he had written on Facebook:
"The FDP wants to make Pegida break over the Christmas period in Dresden. We can do that when:
1. A law on direct democracy is adopted according to the Swiss model.
2. Entry for illegal immigrants is stopped.
3. TTIP, CETA, TISA & CO are stopped.
4. The 6 week period is used to effectively deport as many as possible of the Million Illegals.
5. The job cuts to the police are stopped immediately and more forces are set up to relieve the officers.
6. All arms exports are stopped.
7. The war-mongering and incitement against Russia stops. "
7:05 The next speaker is Agnes from Hungary.
She says there is a Hungarian saying: "Either I adjust myself, or I have to disappear." She had adapted in Germany and did not regret it. "When I first came to Germany, the Germans had the events of 10 September 1989 still fresh in memory." At that time, the Germans thanked her as a Hungarian for the role that Hungary played in opening the country. For that she was proud to be Hungarian.
“Today we hear again sentences that start with "Thank you Hungary", but they end up with "that you protect yourself and our freedom with your border fence".
The international media lies are such, however, that many Hungarians today believe that most Germans stand behind Merkel's boundless welcome policy. (Giant Buh- and whistling choir!) That this is not the case, one can see here at the Pegida demo, said Agnes.
Agnes thanked them for the many Hungarian flags seen on Theatre Square. That shows recognition. Meanwhile, several Eastern European governments that had demonized Hungary's fence now have begun to build border fences themselves!
"I encourage you to continue to continue so," she said to the protesters: "open, friendly and peaceful."
--The Walk--
8:25 Siegfried Däbritz is the next speaker
He calls for more terror alert levels; quotes Thomas Oppermann of the SPD who had already in 2010 proposed the introduction of several terror alert levels in Germany. "So far there is only black or white: either we have a terrorist alert or we do not have terror alert," security expert Thomas Oppermann said.
Däbritz (who works in security) calls for four terrorism warning levels and a specific preparation of the population with rules of conduct for serious cases.
But what's this deal with disarming the legal target shooters and hunters, who are the most checked citizens of the state, while the immigrants "wreak explosive violence with illegally acquired and imported weapons of war massacres".
Däbritz said the Austrian police officers will now be forbidden to carry their service weapons during their leisure time. This amid the rising terrorist threat.
8:35 Then Däbritz reads a letter from a "petty official" concerning the attacks in Paris who says the German police would be hopelessly overwhelmed and unprepared if a similar scenario would play out in Germany.
While Däbritz reads the description of the policeman the Pegiden are speechless and silent. The applause afterwards reveals great consternation.
The letter is very long and is a desperate plea for policy makers and police leadership to respond. You can read the entire letter in German at the Epoch Times under "Hier der Brief".
8:52 Lutz Bachmann, who did not know the report of the police officer, says he was speechless. Officials have told him similar, but never in the vividness and detail of this letter. Then he thanks the police again for their hard work: "A huge applause to all civil servants, who put their A **** on the line for us."
Today the Anthem is not led by Ramona, but another Pegidin. She says, "I think the last speech was very moving for all, I'm still a bit in shock."
8:53 Lutz Bachmann, still under the influence of the letter, announces “We are governed by madmen, and that must come to an end!" He declared the meeting closed.
Live stream video of the event: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zqn4k14_vY