Demonstrators are gathering across Germany in support of Edward Snowden and Bradley Manning, as German writers publish an open letter to Chancellor Merkel demanding explanations over the country’s secret services involvement in the NSA spying program.

A day of marches and demonstrations is taking place on over 40 German cities in support of Edward Snowden and Bradley Manning with largest in Frankfurt.

The protests come just days after Snowden was awarded the Whistleblower award, established by German human rights organizations in 1999.