News / Society

Anti-Pegida rally held in Newcastle

Saturday, 28 February 2015 1:27 PM [ Last Update: Saturday, 28 February 2015 2:27 PM ]

Newcastle has turned into scene of anti-Pegida march.

The march of anti-Islam Pegida in the UK’s Newcastle has been met by a counter demonstration attended by all walks of life in the city.

Community leaders, politicians, union representatives and ordinary citizens say the anti-Islam Pegida is not welcome in the city.

The counter-demonstration has been organized by a coalition of trade unionists and anti-fascists, including Newcastle Stop the War and the University and College Union (UCU), protesting under the banner “Newcastle Unites.”

Reports say, about 400 attended Pegida rally. This comes as more than 1000 people took part in the anti-Pegida demonstration.

This is the first anti-Islamisation protest in Britain.

Scuffles have broken out between police and Pegida supporters.

Pegida, which stands for Patriotic Europeans against the Islamisation of the West, campaigns against what it perceives as the growing influence of Islam in Europe and increasing immigration. They say they are not racists, but their critics believe that they are Anti-Muslim and plan to promote hatred.

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