Once again, Munich has shown its strong opinions, strong opinions against right-wing extremism. The “Your Choice” initiative called for a rally on Königsplatz on Saturday afternoon. The date was deliberately chosen: one day before the European elections. As in Berlin and other German cities, the event is intended to be a sign of democratic values and a warning against the expected shift to the right during the election, i.e. towards radical right-wing parties. And not just in Germany, but in almost all EU countries. What can be done to counteract this? Make a statement. And of course: go and vote.
But, as Astrid Deilmann, chairwoman of the Campact movement, demands: “Make democratic crosses, crosses without hooks!” She calls for joint efforts against populist forces, regardless of whether they are “from the democratic left to the democratic right”. For speaker Arif Haidary, exercising his right to vote is a matter of course. He is now allowed to vote for the first time after his naturalization last year, he emphasizes as a representative of the Bavarian Refugee Council. “I am very happy about that.”
Claire Staudenmayer from Pulse of Europe speaks of a fateful election. The movement was founded in 2016 in the wake of Brexit and the election of Donald Trump. The European Union is not perfect, says Staudenmayer, but “it is the best thing that could have happened to us”. The “right-wing forces” want to weaken the EU. European integration stands for peace, freedom and democracy, and this must be preserved. Munich is colorful, says the posters, one hears from the stage. The organizers make it clear what does not belong: flags – apart from the European stars and stripes -, party badges and denigration of the state of Israel and the victims of the war in the Gaza Strip.
Birgit and John, both from Schwabing, are taking advantage of the freedom to demonstrate. They say they are here “because it is necessary, because you have to pull yourself together; every single person counts.” The developments in Italy and especially in France are what worry them most. Do they believe that they can change something by taking part in a demonstration? “Not that we can change the classic AfD voters,” says Birgit. “But we want to tell someone like Markus Söder: there aren’t that few of us either, and if you want a majority, it doesn’t necessarily lie on the right. He’s a weather vane. Maybe he needs a bit of wind from the left.”
Sophie, an older lady, is there with her friends Petzi and Gaby: “I’m here to make a statement. The more people show that they are for Europe and against right-wing extremism, the more that might impress others.” She doesn’t know whether that will work, but if you assume the worst, you might as well stay at home.
Two troublemakers climb the scaffolding at the Antikensammlung
A man with a full beard, a broad smile, around 30, is waving a blue European flag on a long pole. He could have taken his colorful rainbow flag with him, but he thought this one was more appropriate for today. While they were talking to him, an older man shouts aggressively: “You’re for the EU warmongers, aren’t you?” Then he disappears into the crowd. “I’m also against war,” says the bearded man. “But in the event of an attack, you have to defend yourself.”
According to the police, a good 5,000 people gathered at the rally on Königsplatz from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. The organizers spoke of more than 20,000 people, as many as they had expected. The event was peaceful, but not quite as planned. During the performance of the singers Queen Lizzy and Gündalein, two activists, presumably members of the Identitarian Movement, climbed onto the roof of the scaffolded antique collection and unfurled a banner. “Mannheim is everywhere” could be read for a brief moment, an allusion to the fatal knife attack in the Baden-Württemberg city. The two troublemakers celebrated themselves with blue flares under the eagle on the roof ridge. The crowd reacted immediately, many gave the activists the finger, everyone chanted: “Nazis out.”
Only when the two right-wing extremists have leisurely descended the steps of the scaffolding are they arrested by police. “I find it scandalous that it took so long that no action was taken before,” says Thomas Lechner at the edge of the stage. The cultural worker and independent city councilor in the Left/The Party faction would have liked the police to have intervened much earlier. They do so again later and arrest a man who had removed the troublemakers’ poster. At least the organizers react calmly to the right-wing action. They just carry on. Next item on the program: the “Grandmas against the right.”