Tens of thousands of people are protesting in the eastern German city of Dresden against racism and for an open society.
The protests Saturday came in reaction to weekly anti-Islamic demonstrations that have been taking place for months in Dresden.
The weekly rallies are organized by a group calling itself Patriotic Europeans against the Islamization of the West, or Pegida. Those rallies have been attended by up to 18,000 people, but Saturday's counter protests mobilized more than twice the crowds — around 35,000 protesters.
Police and city officials couldn't immediately be reached for comment, but German news agency dpa reported Dresden mayor Helma Orosz telling protesters that their city "won't be split apart by hatred."
Chancellor Angela Merkel had previously called on Germans not to participate in Pegida rallies.
People hold up posters reading 'Je suis Charlie - Aber nicht Pegida' (I am Charlie - But not Pegida) during a rally on January 10, 2015 in Dresden, eastern Germany. (ARNO BURGI/AFP/Getty Images)
A banner reading 'Wall of friendship without borders' can be seen in the foreground as thousands of people take part in a rally on January 10, 2015 in Dresden, eastern Germany. (ARNO BURGI/AFP/Getty Images)
A poster reading 'Nous sommes Charlie' (We are Charlie) can be seen as thousands of people take part in a rally on January 10, 2015 in Dresden, eastern Germany. (ARNO BURGI/AFP/Getty Images)
A sign reading 'Help the refugees!' can be seen in the foreground can be seen as thousands of people take part in a rally on January 10, 2015 in Dresden, eastern Germany. (ARNO BURGI/AFP/Getty Images)
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