Berlin, Germany - October 03, 2024

Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets in Berlin on October 3, 2024, Germany's Unity Day, answering the nationwide call by the "Never Again War" initiative for a peace demonstration. Protesters rallied against the stationing of U.S. missiles in Germany, the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, and Germany's arms deliveries to Ukraine and Israel. The event, which culminated at the Victory Column in Berlin's Tiergarten, was marked by a mix of peace activists, anti-war protesters, and pro-Palestinian demonstrators. Organizers estimated around 30,000 participants, though police put the number closer to 10,000. Key speakers included Sahra Wagenknecht, leader of the newly formed BSW party, and Ralf Stegner, a prominent member of the SPD. Stegner, who spoke on Germany's role in supporting Ukraine's defense and Israel's security, was met with boos and interruptions as he defended military aid. His speech drew mixed reactions from the crowd, many of whom opposed any form of arms delivery, while others criticized his remarks on Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Sahra Wagenknecht delivered a fiery speech attacking Germany's foreign policy and criticizing politicians like Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, whom she called a "security risk for Germany" due to her support of military interventions. Wagenknecht condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine but also accused the U.S. of hypocrisy, saying, "If Putin is a criminal, what about the U.S. leaders responsible for their wars?" The demonstration also saw a counter-protest nearby, organized by the Ukrainian group Vitsche, which chanted slogans like "Stop Russian Propaganda" and "Russia is a Terror State."ڬڱSoundbite Gerald:ۇAt the Berlin protest, Gerald, a demonstrator who shouted "shut up" during SPD politician Ralf Stegner's speech, expressed his frustration. "I'm against the SPD, and he supports them, which means he supports war. I want peace, even with Russia. Peace is hard, but Russia's war, while not good, has reasons behind it, and that needs to change. What he's saying is nonsense."ࡁࡆSoundbite Ralf Stegner, after his speech at the Berlin protest:ࢊ"Politics isn't just for fair-weather days—you must stand up for what's right. It's possible to advocate for peace and humanity without betraying Ukraine or being anti-Israel. Humanity in the Middle East means security for Israel as well as self-determination and dignity for Palestinians. And in Ukraine, it means Russia cannot be allowed to win this war of aggression while still working toward a diplomatic resolution."ਵ਺Soundbite Sahra Wagenknecht, after her speech at the protest:੼"I hope this peace rally shows that many people in Germany want diplomacy, negotiations, and a new policy of detente. I hope we can follow this path and move toward a more reasonable political approach."