Points of light against forgetting enable active remembrance of 9 November 1938
On Thursday, 9 November, from 4 pm to around 9 pm, the "Chemnitz for Humanity" alliance will once again be coordinating numerous light points throughout Chemnitz to commemorate the victims of the Reichspogromnacht, inviting people to actively remember, discuss and engage in dialogue.
The night of 9 November 1938 is one of the darkest chapters in German history. Throughout Germany, terrible acts of violence were committed against Jews and shops and synagogues were destroyed. On 10 November, many people arrested during the night were deported. Jews in Chemnitz were also attacked, assaulted and arrested by fascists and the synagogue on Stephanplatz was also destroyed.
To commemorate these terrible crimes, points of light will once again be lit up throughout Chemnitz this year.
Points of light are places of encounter and remembrance in various ways: in the form of small vigils in squares and streets, open doors of institutions and associations or with event formats.
The points of light are organised by various institutions, associations, parties and meeting places in and around Chemnitz. The "Points of light against forgetting" campaign takes place in cooperation with the Lichterwege organised by Chemnitzer Buntmacher*innen e. V.. People travelling along the Paths of Light between the stumbling blocks in Chemnitz can pause at the points of light, talk to each other and set an example together for humanity, democracy and against fascism.
The following initiatives and organisations are involved in the campaign:
Kunstsammlungen Chemnitz, Museum Gunzenhauser, Stadtteilpiloten, Buntmacher*innen, Haus der Kulturen, Open Space Chemnitz, Universitätsbibliothek, Human Aid Collective, Stadtteilmanagement Innenstadt, Weltecho, Wohnungsnotfallhilfe Stadtmission Chemnitz, Bürgerplattform Chemnitz-Mitte, Kirchgemeinde St. Stephan, DGB, NDC, Jewish Community Chemnitz, Bürgerhaus City, Kinder- und Jugendhaus UK, Bürgerplattform Chemnitz Süd, SPD Chemnitz, Asa-ff, Die Linke Chemnitz, Kinder- und Jugendhaus UK, Bürgerplattform Chemnitz Süd, Lern- und Gedenkort Kaßberggefängnis, Aufstehen gegen Rassismus, AJZ, Gute Zieten e.V., the office of the Capital of Culture Chemnitz 2025 GmbH, Bündnis90/Die Grünen Chemnitz, Einsiedel Grammar School, Friedenskirche.
The complete overview of the Lichtpunkte 2023 can be found here.