Thousands of Chemnitz residents send a clear signal on Peace Day: There is no place for Nazis in our city
A day of remembrance and a clear stance against right-wing extremism: around 5,000 people from Chemnitz celebrated Peace Day today, 5 March, with a variety of activities and events.
As every year, the day began with a wreath-laying ceremony at the municipal cemetery. Around 400 people, mainly schoolchildren, came to remember the destruction of the city 68 years ago and the reason for it. Jason Weißbach, student representative at Goethegymnasium, impressed the audience with a personal, very moving speech. The clear message: we all bear responsibility for ensuring that history does not repeat itself.
A clear commitment to peace and democracy was also the focus of the Peace Cross organised by the Bürgerverein Für Chemnitz and the Chemnitz Peace Day working group, which was the focal point at Neumarkt. Coming together, talking, remembering, admonishing - the initiators of the Peace Day sought dialogue with visitors.
The fleeces of Action C were clearly eye-catching: children and young people from more than 50 daycare centres and schools in Chemnitz had designed large fabric panels over the past few weeks with their thoughts on Peace Day and its message. The open-air gallery could be seen in many places in the city, including around the Neumarkt. There were also concerts, performances, talks, peace wishes and many other contributions to the Peace Day.
Around 2,000 people attended the evening event on Neumarkt, around 1,500 gathered at the main railway station, and there were also around 600 participants in the student demonstration. Around 700 people from Chemnitz took part in the rally marches.
The speech at Neumarkt was given by the Rector of the Technical University, Prof. Arnold van Zyl: "Every Chemnitz resident, every German and European citizen can help and make a personal commitment to the protection of human rights and through solidarity and mutual respect for the diversity of people and ideas that enrich our everyday lives," he said.
The musical programme was performed by the brass ensemble of the Robert Schumann Philharmonic Orchestra, the choir of the municipal theatres, the "Shir Semer" choir of the Jewish community and the actress Muriel Wenger. The anti-racism group from the Dr Wilhelm André Grammar School and Ensemble C from the Chemnitz Municipal Music School also took to the stage. The atmospheric finale was the joint canon "Dona nobis pacem".
"I would like to thank everyone who made a clear statement here in our city today: for peace, for democracy, against right-wing extremism," said Lord Mayor Barbara Ludwig. "I am glad that so many people have clearly shown their stance. I found it particularly encouraging that so many young people took part. That is an important signal."
The Peace Day was to end later that evening with a peace service, peace texts, the traditional commemorative ringing and an art event entitled "Peremett".
Current photos at www.chemnitz.de