Thousands March In Germany Urging EU To Take In Refugees

‘I decided to speak up for those who can’t speak for themselves. We can’t close our eyes and walk away from them. People are people, no matter where we come from,’ says Alan Kurdi’s aunt

Thousands of people demonstrated on Sunday in Berlin and other German cities, urging the European Union (EU) to take in migrants let without shelter after a fire destroyed their biggest camp in Greece.

The mask-clad protesters armed with “leave no one behind” posters were joined in the German capital by the aunt of Alan Kurdi, the Syrian boy whose image became a tragic symbol of the 2015 refugee crisis after his body was washed up on a Turkish beach.

“I decided to speak up and speak for those who can’t speak for themselves. If I can’t save my own family, then let’s save the others,” said Tima Kurdi, urging people to write to politicians to push for action.

“We can’t close our eyes and turn our backs and walk away from them. People are people, no matter where we come from,” she added.

The crowd marched through the capital to the landmark Victory Column carrying signs with slogans like “we have space” and “Seehofer, be a Christian” - a reference to Interior Minister Horst Seehofer.