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More than 20,000 people marched in the Austrian capital of Vienna Saturday to express solidarity with war refugees entering the country. The march doubled as a protest against Austria’s right-wing Freedom Party, led by parliamentarian Heinz-Christian Strache, which has seen a boost in popularity due to its hardline stance against immigration.
"We're very worried about Strache doing well in the Vienna election," a 28-year-old protester named Christof, who works for the city administration, told Reuters, sporting a badge with leader of the Freedom Party’s face crossed out.
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100,000 people of Vienna are demonstrating now for a Europe that welcomes refugees. pic.twitter.com/7XkzoxQnwj
— Melissa Fleming (@melissarfleming)
October 3, 201
Strache has vowed to protect what he calls Austria's “Christian” and “Western” identity from predominantly Muslim refugees. He is running for mayor of Vienna in the election set for October 11. He has called for a fence to be built around Austria to stop the flow of refugees.
Protesters, including students and families with their children, marched towards parliament, holding up posters reading, "In with the refugees, out with the FPO," and "No walls around Europe.”
RELATED: How Europe Created Its Own Refugee Crisis
More than 200,000 people, mostly from Syria, have entered Austria in the past few months. However, only 9,000 people have sought asylum in the country, with many more preferring to settle in the more welcoming environment of Germany.
Vienna #October3rd #Heldenplatz #voicesforrefugees, #refugees are our friends. #Syria pic.twitter.com/BXOxlIx6OC
— Federico Di Leo (@Fe_DiLeo)
October 3, 201
The country's current centrist government has thus far expressed a positive attitude towards the refugees. Prime Minister Juha Sipila has even offered his own home to asylum-seekers.
Meanwhile, in northern Europe, protesters in Finland were demanding the government crack down on refugees. "We want the state to take care of its own," Junes Lokka, one of about 400 protesters in the city of Tornio, told Reuters. "Instead of taking the asylum-seekers who come (through) Sweden, we should turn them back.”
The government of Finland said on Friday that it expects to receive around 50,000 asylum-seekers this year, compared to 3,600 in 2014.
RELATED: Europe's Refugee Crisis
