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German anti-Islam group vows that it won't be silenced; Copenhagen

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Organizer Lutz Bachmann, speaks during a news conference of the group 'Patriotic Europeans against the Islamization of the West' (PEGIDA) in Dresden, Germany, Monday, Jan. 19, 2015. The German group protesting what it calls “the Islamization of the West” is vowing that it won’t be silenced after its weekly rally was canceled because of a terrorist threat against one of its organizers. The planned demonstration in Dresden was scrapped and local police banned all rallies Monday after being informed of a call for attackers to kill Lutz Bachmann, PEGIDA’s best-known figure. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer) (The Associated Press)

Organizer Lutz Bachmann, left, and co-organizer Kathrin Oertel attend a news conference of the group 'Patriotic Europeans against the Islamization of the West' (PEGIDA) in Dresden, Germany, Monday, Jan. 19, 2015. The German group protesting what it calls “the Islamization of the West” is vowing that it won’t be silenced after its weekly rally was canceled because of a terrorist threat against one of its organizers. The planned demonstration in Dresden was scrapped and local police banned all rallies Monday after being informed of a call for attackers to kill Lutz Bachmann, PEGIDA’s best-known figure. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer) (The Associated Press)

Organizer Lutz Bachmann, left, and co-organizer Kathrin Oertel attend a news conference of the group 'Patriotic Europeans against the Islamization of the West' (PEGIDA) in Dresden, Germany, Monday, Jan. 19, 2015. The German group protesting what it calls “the Islamization of the West” is vowing that it won’t be silenced after its weekly rally was canceled because of a terrorist threat against one of its organizers. The planned demonstration in Dresden was scrapped and local police banned all rallies Monday after being informed of a call for attackers to kill Lutz Bachmann, PEGIDA’s best-known figure. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer) (The Associated Press)

A German group protesting what it calls "the Islamization of the West" is vowing that it won't be silenced after its weekly rally was canceled following an alleged terrorist threat against one of its organizers.

The planned demonstration in Dresden by PEGIDA, or Patriotic Europeans against the Islamization of the West, was scrapped and local police banned all rallies Monday after being informed of a call for attackers to kill Lutz Bachmann, PEGIDA's best-known figure.

Co-organizer Kathrin Oertel said Monday's cancellation "doesn't mean that we'll let ourselves be gagged." Bachmann says a demonstration is planned for next week.

PEGIDA's branch in Copenhagen plans to go ahead with its first march Monday.

The group has drawn widespread criticism from German politicians, but its organizers insist PEGIDA and its supporters aren't racist.