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Editor:
Presscouncil City of Chemnitz
Pressrelease: 607

Initial project ideas from the city and initiatives in Chemnitz

Following the events of the past week in Chemnitz, projects by the city and initiatives were presented at a press conference today. These are based on three pillars:

  1. Staying in dialogue
  2. Chemnitz is neither grey nor brown
  3. Stronger together - culture for openness and diversity

As part of the first pillar, the City of Chemnitz will organise further civic dialogue events in cooperation with the state government. For example, a dialogue event entitled "How safe is Chemnitz?" is planned for September, which will be attended by city representatives as well as the Chemnitz police department and the state government.

A citizens' dialogue on the topic of immigration will follow in October. Mayor Ludwig has invited Federal Chancellor Dr Angela Merkel to Chemnitz for this.
A scientifically supported event on the topic of right-wing extremism is expected to take place on 9 November.

In addition, the regular residents' meetings (e.g. on 26 October 2018 for Chemnitz Mitte) offer the opportunity to discuss specific topics from the residential area with the Lord Mayor and the mayors and, if necessary, to discuss concrete measures.

Committed Chemnitz citizens, entrepreneurs and academics have come together under the motto "Chemnitz is neither grey nor brown". The appeal states:

"Chemnitz has everything: its good sides and its problems. What we cannot live with is hatred, violence, intolerance and, above all, looking the other way. This is the breeding ground on which hostility to democracy grows. It creates fear. But it gives rise to the courage that we citizens now need.

We have to face up to the truth. But we also have to stick to the truth. To do this, we need an attentive media. In recent years, many active and motivated people have turned a grey city into a colourful, liveable Chemnitz, almost a comfort zone. Now we have to get out of it again. We must and want to get involved again so that colourful does not turn brown. We want to turn discrimination into respect, blindness into education and opposition into togetherness.

Above all, we want to show that the majority in our city think democratically and openly. Everyone must assume this responsibility for themselves. We would like to thank everyone who supports us in reigniting peaceful coexistence."

Under the title "GEMEINSAM STÄRKER - Kultur für Offenheit und Vielfalt" (Stronger Together - Culture for Openness and Diversity), Chemnitz Theatre wants to set an example with the performance of Ludwig van Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 in D minor op. 125 and consistently counteract the tendencies towards xenophobia, hate speech and violence. Under the musical direction of General Music Director Guillermo García Calvo, soloists and choirs from Chemnitz Opera, the Robert Schumann Philharmonic Orchestra, the Singakademie Chemnitz, the University Choir of Chemnitz University of Technology and members of various choirs, some from beyond the region, will perform. The theatre sections of ballet, drama and puppet theatre will also take part in this open-air concert.

"Chemnitz's theatres employ artists of many nationalities who are concerned about the developments of recent days. We want Chemnitz to be and remain a city of open discourse for these employees and all citizens, a city that can earn the title of Capital of Culture - with a culture that lives respect in cooperation," says Dr Christoph Dittrich, General Director of Chemnitz Theatre. Admission to the concert is free.