Thousands of Europeans took to the streets of more than 40 cities in Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and the UK yesterday (12 March) to protest against populism and highlight European values before elections in the Netherlands and France.
The protests were organised by Pulse of Europe movement, which was founded by Frankfurt lawyer Daniel Röder and his wife Sabine, which describes itself as a non-partisan citizens’ initiative.
#Frankfurt #pulseofeurope #Niederlande #staywithus
it started in Frankfurt, it reached whole Europe pic.twitter.com/ImH4ji32JA— Peter Hdg (@Tenere333) March 12, 2017
In Germany, 35 cities participated, along with five in France, as well as Amsterdam, Brussels, and Bath in the UK.
Us Brits in Stuttgart today showing our support for #pulseofeurope pic.twitter.com/H1iLgd0h9w
— Ian (@gollyboys) March 12, 2017
The movement says its supporters are convinced that the majority of people believe in the fundamental idea of the European Union and its potential for reform and that they don’t want to sacrifice it to nationalist tendencies.
"We want to show there are not only right-wing nationalists protesting, us pro-European people also have a voice" #pulseofeurope #Cologne pic.twitter.com/oY79Ktqgbe
— Kiyo Dörrer (@KiyoDoerrer) March 12, 2017
To counter the “negative and destructive voices” which prevail in the speech, they say that pro-Europeans should become “louder and more visible”.
“We all must now send out positive energy against current tendencies. The European pulse must be felt everywhere,” the movement claims.
The movement ambitions to become stronger, as demonstrations will be held every Sunday.
The @PulseofEurope is beating in 34 European cities every sunday. Join the Pulse, share this tweet, invite.#EuropaUnited #PulseOfEurope pic.twitter.com/529HJvdiOZ
— Europa United (@EuropaUnitedEU) March 6, 2017
#PulseofEurope This is pretty impressive. #Berlin pic.twitter.com/D0R8XEsTrv
— Jon Worth (@jonworth) March 12, 2017
Blue Sky, FrEUde, and Irish bagpipe music at #PulseofEurope #Munich pic.twitter.com/aNoziM8NRb
— Rolf Kersten (@rolfk) March 12, 2017
Mit 3000 (yeah!) bei #pulseofeurope in #frankfurt pic.twitter.com/YH2aYLay0f
— Ralph Lange (@savange99) March 12, 2017
Awesome! #blijfbijons #thisiswhy @PulseofEurope @PulseofEuropeNL #pulseofeurope #Amsterdam pic.twitter.com/8QkTbD8EH1
— WhyEurope (@why_europe) March 12, 2017
Standing up for #Europe NOW in @VilleBruxelles and 48 other European cities ?? #PulseOfEurope pulseofeurope.eu #UniteEurope pic.twitter.com/Q4T7gNI9ZF
— Ralph Kamphöner (@ralphkamphoner) March 12, 2017
Let's get loud!!! #pulseofeurope #freiburg pic.twitter.com/QO4AwoLvKV
— Marianne (@zwottel_) March 12, 2017