At the demonstration against the right on Sunday, tens of thousands, perhaps hundreds of thousands of people protested in Munich against right-wing extremism and the AfD. However, speeches and presentations on stage also caused irritation among the participants, as the protest against the extreme right was partly mixed together with criticism of the traffic light government.
Since the event had to be canceled early due to the large influx of demonstrators, only three of 13 planned speeches that were to be given on stage or from the loudspeaker truck during the rally were given. Some speakers made their texts available to the SZ afterwards. We present excerpts of them here.
Sapir von Abe, curator of cultural education at the Jewish Museum in Munich
According to her text, Abe’s Sapir wanted to speak to the demonstrators as a “Jewish woman who has spent most of her life in Germany.” Anti-Semitism is a constant in their lives and that of Jews in Germany. But now the AfD has a “quarter of voter approval”. Hatred towards marginalized groups is “higher than ever.”
“I no longer feel safe in Germany,” it continues. Their Jewish identity is perceived as a threat. Her migration history is reason to “think up” her deportation out loud, her origins legitimize her and threaten her with violence. Von Abe appeals to society to take the voices of marginalized groups seriously – and to think along when it comes to the shape and future of German society. “Our fights against the right must happen together. We must neither allow ourselves to be instrumentalized nor played off against each other.” Anti-Semitism concerns everyone.
Barbara Mundel, director of the Kammerspiele
Barbara Mundel emphasizes in her text that the Munich Kammerspiele employed people with diverse experiences. They are the first city theater in Germany to have an inclusive acting ensemble. Whatever an “ideological project” is for right-wingers is everyday life for them – and it will stay that way. The Kammerspiele’s program reflected different realities of life and constantly worked to ensure that everyone felt welcome. “Everyone except Nazis.”
Anonymous, employee of the Kammerspiele
Another Kammerspiele employee was supposed to speak at the demo – but not directly, her speech was supposed to be delivered by a colleague. The reason is apparently fears for their safety: “If I were to stand here in front of you today, that alone could have repercussions for me,” it says in the text. Racism does not only exist in the AfD, even if it takes on special forms there. The existing integration, migration and refugee policies are already racist.
The author asks that we “not just be loud against the AfD, but also against any form of exclusion and oppression.” People have to stand up for each other, parties have to stand up for social justice.
She knows that a lot of different people came together at the demo and certainly don’t agree on many things. “That gives me hope. That we can still come together. That we’re not just fighting against something, but hopefully also for something.”
Nesrin Gül, Munich Migration Advisory Board
“We are horrified by the current events, but not surprised,” says the speech of the former vice-chair of the Migration Advisory Board Nesrin Gül, with regard to the recently announced deportation plans of the extreme right. Everyday agitation, discrimination and right-wing violence hurt people every day. Now the hatred is becoming “visibly greater, more violent and more strategic.”
Gül calls on the democratic parties to act. They should take people seriously, stop adopting the “wording of fascists” and make the “human right to asylum the plaything of your election campaign politics.”
It requires effective strategies against right-wing extremism. But security forces, media, trade unions and civil society also have to defend democracy. “If we don’t act now, we risk waking up tomorrow to realities that we can neither distance ourselves from nor save so easily,” writes Gül.
Michael Movchin, Chairman of the Association of Jewish Students in Bavaria
The year 2023 has seen many Jews in Germany pack their proverbial suitcases again, says Michael Movchin’s speech, referring to the AfD’s local political successes and, above all, October 7th, the day of Hamas’ attack on Israel – since then For the Jewish people in Germany, “nothing is like it used to be anyway.”
It goes on to say that anti-Semitism poses a real danger to Jews. The cry “Against all anti-Semitism!” must become the practice of action, demands Movchin. “In the fight against the AfD and the normalization of right-wing extremist ideas, we all need it.”
He demands from the democratic parties a “constructive willingness to compromise – regardless of the party membership”. He thanks the people who are now taking to the streets, but emphasizes that “that is not enough.” Further commitment must follow.
Ronja Hofmann, “Fridays for Future”
It is difficult to find words in view of the “inhumane plans that were forged in Potsdam,” says Ronja Hofmann’s text in relation to the Correctiv revelations. Here the “horrible face of the new right shows itself very clearly”.
In addition, words are not enough and the political parties must also understand this. There should be no cooperation with the AfD at any level. With regard to the CDU, CSU and Free Voters, Hofmann warns that distance should be maintained in both actions and words.
“Yes, politics is in demand,” they say. The traffic light needs to make better policies. “But we are also in demand.” Democracy must be defended every day. At work, in the club, also in the family. Alone you often feel small and powerless. But that’s exactly why we’re at this demonstration: to overcome powerlessness and loneliness and to make it clear together “that democracy, the rule of law and human dignity are non-negotiable.”
Jörg Mertens, hashtag #ichbinarmutsbetricken
Jörg Mertens, who himself is affected by poverty and advocates for the rights of poor people, points out in his speech that all the organizations, alliances and also individual people who took part in the demonstration wanted to show one thing: “We let ourselves Don’t let right-wing extremists and their sympathizers destroy our democratic common good!”
The reasons for poverty in Germany are very different, but the people affected have one thing in common: “They are defamed by the right as lazy and not belonging.” Yes, there is even talk of how to remove them. Something like this has already happened in Germany.
Now a “phalanx of right-wing radicals with fantasies of omnipotence” is developing. And the AfD is preparing to repeat history. This shouldn’t be allowed. Mertens appeals to maintain a basic democratic consensus despite different opinions. And he speaks out for a democratic, fairer and social coexistence – “without fascists and Nazis!”