According to police estimates around 15,000 people participated in the LEGIDA-demonstration and the evening protest march that followed. The protest march route of "LEGIDA" that had originally been planned and requested for the entire city ring road by LEGIDA-organisers was restricted by the authorities to a section of the ring road in the name of public safety. The administrative court had to confirm this measure in expedited proceedings.
In numerous counter-demonstrations and protest vigils more than 20,000 people demonstrated for multiculturalism and tolerance. Prominent buildings of the city, such as the Leipzig Opera House and the Leipzig Gewandhaus concert hall building, switched off their lights and numerous vigils were held along the inner city ring road.
The mainly peaceful demonstrations were overshadowed by the occasional clash from both sides. In the run-up to the LEGIDA-protest march, NO-LEGIDA demonstrators attempted to block the entrance to Augustusplatz.
To guarantee the basic right to freedom of assembly and speech more than 4,000 police were on duty. For a certain time, the inner city ring was completely closed off to all private motorised vehicles. Public transport also had to be deviated from the ring road.