"Only 24 hours left until we set out on a walk for the 12th time, and, for sure, we will not let Mr. Maas or any other conflict-seeking anti-patriot stop us," the group said in a statement.
This time around the organizers asked those coming to the Dresden rally to wear black ribbons in solidarity with victims of terrorist attacks in Paris, as France is mourning those, who perished in three days of deadly shootings at the office of the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo and a kosher supermarket.
Earlier on Sunday, Maas urged the group's leadership to cancel the protest, saying PEGIDA was trying to capitalize on the recent Islamist attack in France that killed a total of 17 people. The minister added the memory of the victims did not reserve to be tarnished by "rabble-rousers," according to Deutsche Welle.
Merkel on #Pegida: "Their hearts are cold and full of prejudice, and even hate" http://t.co/I6KhHVDrtT pic.twitter.com/IgfAcCz1Kv
— The Economist (@TheEconomist) January 10, 2015
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and other senior officials have several times condemned PEGIDA rallies that have also been outnumbered by counter-demonstrations elsewhere across Germany.
