The demonstration train in Wedding Photo: Fabian Sommer/dpa
From the BZ editorial team
Around 1,500 people demonstrated on Saturday at the Easter march in Berlin for global disarmament and a ceasefire in Ukraine.
“The war in Ukraine must be ended as soon as possible,” Lühr Henken, co-speaker of the Federal Committee on Peace Advice, called out to the participants from the lectern. After the start, the demonstrators marched through the district of Wedding in Berlin-Mitte. The Federal Peace Council Committee (Kassel) is an association of people committed to peace policy.
When asked by a dpa reporter, several participants spoke out in favor of starting negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. In their view, all arms deliveries to the attacked country should be stopped and sanctions against Russia should be lifted.
The Easter March was organized by the Berlin Peace Coordination Photo: CLEMENS BILAN/EPA
Banners and placards read phrases like “Peace, heating, bread instead of weapons, war and death” and “NATO is the aggressor – peace with Russia”.
The Easter March was organized by the Berlin Peace Coordination. Among the announced speakers were a representative of the Verdi trade union and the national chairman of the Naturefriends Germany initiative.
More than 100 police forces secured the demonstration. Around 40 people gathered at a small counter-event.
There were also demonstrations in front of the Brandenburg Gate Photo: Fabian Sommer/dpa
Around 150 people demonstrated for Ukraine at the Brandenburg Gate. “Our message is: no peace without justice and freedom – only a Ukrainian victory means peace in Europe,” wrote the organizing group Vitsche on Twitter.
According to the Peace Cooperation Network, more than 120 actions are planned nationwide from Maundy Thursday to Easter Monday.