Thousands of demonstrators marched through central Berlin on Thursday, protesting against the German government’s continued supply of weapons to Ukraine and criticizing Western nations for fueling the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.
The rally coincided with German Unity Day but took on a somber tone as participants marched from three directions through the city toward Tiergarten Park, united in their call for diplomatic solutions to global conflicts.
Protesters expressed frustration with the perceived inaction of both the United States and the European Union in promoting peace.
“Now we see the Americans are not really defending the peace, so we do not see the European Union being strong, having a positioning defending peace. The weapons delivery is one of the things that has been most mentioned here at the demonstration that people are saying whatever we do as a country, Germany should stop the weapons delivery. This is not legal,” said protester Ulrike Guerot.
The intensifying conflicts and their ripple effects have significantly impacted German society and its economy in recent years, sparking numerous protests across the country. Demonstrators are urging Western nations and those involved in the conflicts to pursue immediate diplomatic resolutions to the crises.
Another protester, Reiner Braun, echoed this sentiment.
“We want to stop the wars in the world, and then we need negotiation, ceasefire and diplomacy. And stop killing, stop murdering, stop all those (destruction),” said Braun.
(Reuters)