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) less
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 ... more
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.” less
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 ... more
Photo: Michael Sohn, AP
Foreign minister to Germans: get off the couch, fight racism
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."