Diverse activities for the Chemnitz Peace Day
Chemnitz sets an example for peace: Hundreds of people from Chemnitz took part in numerous events and actions today to mark Chemnitz Peace Day, to commemorate the destruction of the city and all the victims of the Second World War, and to set an example for democracy, tolerance, peaceful coexistence and cosmopolitanism, against hatred and right-wing extremism.
"War always, at all times and all over the world affects women, children and ordinary people in particular. Today we think of peace, hope for peace for the peoples of the world and dedicate ourselves to this most important mission in Chemnitz. 5 March is the right day for this," said Lord Mayor Barbara Ludwig on the Chemnitz Peace Day in the morning at the wreath-laying ceremony at the memorial for the bomb victims of 5 March at the municipal cemetery. Around 200 people honoured the victims of the night of the bombing 71 years ago. The event was accompanied by a wind quartet from the Robert Schumann Philharmonic Orchestra.
After devotions in four churches in Chemnitz, the traditional peace routes led along different routes to the central event on Neumarkt. This year, it was organised by the Municipal Music School under the direction of Nancy Gibson under the title "Together - in a foreign homeland". Various choirs, including the visually impaired choir "Kaleidoskop" and the sign language choir "Monael and Friends" interpreted John Lennon's "Imagine" in numerous languages.
Diverse activities
Once again this year, the Aktion C art project designed posters for the town hall and the Roter Turm gallery, supported this year for the first time by young refugees. There were also various art projects on display: Wooden walls and wooden sculptures as well as posters with results from graffiti workshops.
In the traditional peace cross on Neumarkt , the citizens' association "FUER Chemnitz" asked citizens for their wishes for peace. Pupils from André Grammar School interpreted peace texts in the foyer of the town hall under the title "Fremd im eigenen Land" (Strangers in their own country), accompanied by the "StreichHölzer" and the children's orchestra from the music school.
The theme of the Stadthallenpark was "Peace all along the line". There, children, young people and their parents had the opportunity to try out peace together with young refugees through sport, games and creative activities.
Numerous participants also attended the events organised by the Chemnitz Nazi Free alliance: the tour of the city, which commemorated the scenes and perpetrators of Nazi crimes, and the rally at the Karl Marx Monument in the afternoon.
The Chemnitz Peace Day ends in the evening with a peace service in the St Jakobi City and Market Church and the traditional commemorative ringing of the Chemnitz churches.
Further information:
The Chemnitz Peace Prize was awarded yesterday evening in the Chemnitz City Council Chamber by the citizens' association "FUER CHEMNITZ". (detailed in the PM No. 111/2016)
Impressions of today's diverse actions in Chemnitz at www.chemnitz.de.
All events related to this year's Peace Day can be found at www.chemnitzer-friedenstag.de.