Berlin protests: About 1,000 anti-government marchers turn out instead of 10,000

About 1,000 people gathered at Berlin's Brandenburg Gate on Saturday afternoon for an anti-government demonstration, according to police estimates. The group "ProjektM1llion," which describes itself as a nonpartisan citizens' movement, had registered 10,000 participants. The march was set to run from Pariser Platz to Alexanderplatz and back, and a police spokesperson said there had been no incidents so far.

Many German flags and peace flags were on display, and one banner read "Never again shoot at Russians!" Organizers are demanding the federal government's resignation, new elections and a nationwide 29-euro transit ticket. An expert from the platform "Berlin gegen Nazis" told t-online she sees overlaps with the coronavirus protest scene and the far right; the initiator says he rejects all forms of extremism.

A pro-Palestinian demonstration with 3,000 registered participants was scheduled to start at 3 p.m. Police said it was moved at short notice for security reasons from the Brandenburg Gate to a street near the Chancellery and will march to Potsdamer Platz. About 1,400 officers are on duty, backed by units from other states and federal police.