Giant slogan on cathedral warns against far-right rule in German state

A civil society alliance has projected a large slogan slamming the far right onto a cathedral and state parliament building in the German city of Magdeburg, before voters go to polls on Sunday in the most closely watched state election in years. 

"What we love, we will not give up. True patriotism is not the AfD," read the message cast on the facades on Friday evening, referring to the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.

More buildings were due to be illuminated on Saturday, said the group called More Than Divides Us, which describes itself as non-partisan, independent and funded by donations.

Its supporters include the popular German actors Sandra Hüller and Christian Friedel, as well as people from civil society, business and academia.

According to a spokeswoman, the action marks the end of the group's "True Patriotism Is" campaign before voters in Saxony-Anhalt elect a new state parliament on Sunday.

The initiative has campaigned for the election of democratic parties using posters and a bus tour, among other methods. Its main goal is to prevent the AfD from forming a single-party government in the eastern state, where it enjoys strong support.

In Saxony-Anhalt and four other states, the AfD has been classified by Germany's domestic intelligence service as a "confirmed right-wing extremist organization."