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Editor:
Presscouncil City of Chemnitz
Pressrelease: 726

Points of light against forgetting

Karte zu den Lichtpunkten 2022

On 9 November, to commemorate the victims of the Reichspogromnacht, the "Chemnitz for Humanity" initiative will create a network of numerous points of light throughout the city. Numerous Chemnitz organisations and parties will light up places of remembrance.

The night of 9 November 1938 is one of the most horrific moments in German history. Throughout Germany, fascists systematically committed brutal acts of violence against Jews, destroying shops and synagogues. The night marked the turning point from discrimination to deportation and murder. Brutal attacks on Jews also took place in Chemnitz that night and the Chemnitz synagogue on Stephanplatz was also destroyed.

The "Points of Light against Forgetting" campaign is being coordinated by the Chemnitz Alliance for Humanity. Katrin Siegel, who initiated and organised the alliance, explains the basic idea behind the campaign: "As a democratic urban society, we want to make it clear together that we must actively commemorate the victims of the Reichspogromnacht and remind people where fascism and misanthropy lead. At our points of light, people throughout the city can find places to commemorate in silence or to enter into dialogue with one another. The fear of fascism in Chemnitz is unfortunately still relevant and justified today. At the Points of Light, we as a civil society can experience how valuable and important it is that we stick together in this city in the spirit of democracy and humanity."

The Points of Light campaign takes place in cooperation with the Lichterwege organised by Chemnitzer Buntmacher:innen e.V.. The association is once again organising trails of light this year, on which stumbling blocks will be cleaned and illuminated. People who take part in the trails of light can start, pause or arrive at the points of light together. On 9 November, the Paths of Light and Points of Light will join forces to create a network against forgetting and for humanity, providing space for remembrance and leaving no room for fascism.

The following initiatives and organisations are involved in the campaign: AJZ Streetwork, ASA - FF, Aufstehen gegen Rassismus Chemnitz, Bordsteinlobby, Bündnis 90/Die Grünen KV Chemnitz, Bürgerverein Chemnitz City, DGB, Die Linke Chemnitz, Different People e.V., Evangelical Forum in cooperation with St. Petri-Schloß-Kirchgemeinde, Friedenskirche, Haus der Kulturen, Jüdische Gemeinde, Kaßberg-Gefängnis - Lern- und Gedenkort, Kinder- und Jugendhaus UK, Kirchgemeinde St Joseph, Kulturhauptstadtbüro-Büro, Markuskirche, Museum Gunzenhauser, Späti Sonnenberg, SPD Chemnitz, Stadtteilbüro Chemnitz Süd, Stadtteilmanagement Innenstadt, Bürgerplattform Chemnitz-Mitte, Netzwerk für Kultur- und Jugendarbeit e. V., Netzwerk für Kultur- und Jugendarbeit e.V., Weltecho cultural centre, district pilots, TU Chemnitz

Contact the action coordinator:
Katrin Siegel, Chemnitz Alliance for Humanity as part of the Chemnitz Partnership for Democracy. Supported by the federal programme "Live Democracy!" Tel. 0176 86 43 66 95

Contacts to individual points of light:

  • Aufstehen gegen Rassismus: Gabi Engelhardt (light point at the Karl Marx Monument)
  • Bündnis90/ Die Grünen: Coretta Storz: 0152/ 33871771 (light points in Brühl/ corner of Hermannstraße and Henriettenstraße 33)
  • St Joseph's Church: Klemens Nieft: 0173 8656288 (light point at St Joseph's Church, Ludwig-Kirsch-Str. 19)
  • Children's and youth centre UK: Jörg Schneider: 01629231060, 0371227026 (Lichtpunkt in Str. Usti nad Labem 40)
  • New synagogue/community centre of the Jewish community: Dorothee Lücke: 0371/302075 (Licht Punkt an der Synagoge, Stollberger Straße 28)
  • Neighbourhood pilots: Katharina von Storch / Ria Leonhardt (Lichtpunkt im Schillerpark)
  • TU Chemnitz: Matthias Fejes: 0371 531 32026 (light point in the courtyard of the TU Chemnitz, Straße der Nationen 62)

Further light points are marked on the map (attachment).