Foreign minister to Germans: get off the couch, fight racism

By Associated Press

Published: 11:29 BST, 2 September 2018 | Updated: 11:49 BST, 2 September 2018

CHEMNITZ, Germany (AP) – Germany’s foreign minister has told his fellow countrymen they’re too lazy when it comes to battling racism and fighting for democracy.

Heiko Maas said Sunday that “we have to get off the couch and open the mouth.”

Maas told weekly Bild am Sonntag that “our generation was given freedom, rule of law and democracy as a present. We didn’t have to fight for it; (now) we’re taking it too much for granted.”

Police cars stand across the road as police separate leftist and nationalist demonstrators in Chemnitz, eastern Germany, Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018, after several nationalist groups called for marches protesting the killing of a German man last week, allegedly by migrants from Syria and Iraq. (dpa via AP)

Police cars stand across the road as police separate leftist and nationalist demonstrators in Chemnitz, eastern Germany, Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018, after several nationalist groups called for marches protesting the killing of a German man last week, allegedly by migrants from Syria and Iraq. (dpa via AP)

Maas’ comments followed Saturday’s demonstrations by about 4,500 far-right protesters in Chemnitz, who were rallying against migration a week after a German was killed in the eastern city, allegedly by two migrants. Around 4,000 leftist protesters also marched through the city in a counter-protest, and 1,800 police officers were deployed to keep the groups apart.

FILE - In this May 30, 2018 file photo German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas attends the weekly cabinet meeting at the Chancellery in Berlin. Germany's foreign minister tells his fellow countrymen they're too lazy when it comes to battling racism and fighting for democracy. Heiko Maas, 51, said Sunday, "We have to get up from the couch and open the mouth." (AP Photo/Michael Sohn, file)

FILE - In this May 30, 2018 file photo German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas attends the weekly cabinet meeting at the Chancellery in Berlin. Germany's foreign minister tells his fellow countrymen they're too lazy when it comes to battling racism and fighting for democracy. Heiko Maas, 51, said Sunday, "We have to get up from the couch and open the mouth." (AP Photo/Michael Sohn, file)

FILE – In this May 30, 2018 file photo German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas attends the weekly cabinet meeting at the Chancellery in Berlin. Germany’s foreign minister tells his fellow countrymen they’re too lazy when it comes to battling racism and fighting for democracy. Heiko Maas, 51, said Sunday, “We have to get up from the couch and open the mouth.” (AP Photo/Michael Sohn, file)

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