During a demonstration in Dresden, tens of thousands came together and put before the Landtag election in Saxony is a sign of a caring society – and thus also against the right-wing populist AfD.
Demo against Law: tens of thousands came to #indivisible to Dresden
At twelve o’clock the Church of our lady for the dinner bell. It’s Saturday, the last weekend before the state election in Saxony. The Alliance #indivisible has called for a major demonstration in Dresden. The goal: “together against discrimination, impoverishment, racism, sexism, disenfranchisement, and nationalism” to ensure it is in the call to the Demonstration.
Still the old market square, the train will start is filled, only a few people. But after hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands on the large square will gather. About 40,000 it will be, according to the Alliance #indivisible in the end. Including Left out of the movement, migrant associations, churches, trade unions, climate activists, parties. It is a meeting of Many in Dresden, the city that was in the past years, mainly due to the racist Pegida demonstrations in the headlines.
In solidarity for democracy
Gertrud Graf: a “grandma’s against the Law”
Gertrud Graf is one of Many. “Now you have to go on the road,” says the Berlin-visiting “grandma against the Right.” Because the occasion is one that makes many here Worry: The survey is the right Alternative for Germany (AfD) values climbing in election forecasts continue to improve. In particular in Saxony, the party is for your national-conservative to right-wing positions known. “If we don’t with all generations is something that we find ourselves in a country that is no longer the democracy that we cherish and want,” says Graf.
A at the kick-off rally starts: On a big stage, in bright sunshine and a bulging square. Around these there are the AfD-choice posters that dominate the lampposts – but on the pitch there are those who stand up for a colorful, diverse, and caring society. Ulla Heinrich, moderated the kick-off, shows how such a to each other can look. Overwhelmed, she smiles from the stage in the crowd: “It’s hot today, so look out for each other.”
What drives you? “I’m here today because I come from Dresden and the results of the European elections have depressed me incredibly,” says Heinrich. “But #indivisible shows me today that we are very many.” You hope that all the people in Dresden, Saxony and Germany would today encourages this diversity, and the feeling of Many.
Presenter Ulla Heinrich: “results of the European elections have depressed me”
Laugh and Dance in the sun
Who lives in Saxony, know of the fear and hatred that plague the society. The white of the attacks on Refugees, of the threats against politically Active. Just last week, the Saxony integration Minister Petra Köpping (SPD) had received death threats.
Today, the picture is different on the streets. As the train moves, it’s hard to keep track of things. Colorful flags and posters glisten in the sun, music blasting cars from about forty speakers. The people laugh and dance, sing and cheer. The Protest is creative, he is young and old, he is gender-diverse, and of people of many origins. Families were sitting on the meadows at the edge. A quick picnic in between, Running in the hot sun exhausted.
Renzo de Pablo from Curaçao Recently moved to Leipzig. Today, he stops in Dresden, a huge sign with a giant heart in the Hand. It’ll make him happy to see that more inclusiveness is not a distant to be Ideal, says Renzo. “I see here that it is possible.”
Protester Renzo de Pablo: “It is possible”
The topics flight and Migration dominate
As the final block of the Demonstration happened, the Carola bridge over the Elbe river, is considered the top of the Demonstration already on the adjacent albert bridge. It is one of the largest demonstrations that has seen Dresden ever. Certainly, with the #indivisible-Demonstration in Berlin last year, the Numbers are not comparable, but for Saxony, and in the comparison to Berlin is a much smaller Dresden – it’s a huge success.
More than 400 organizations and individuals had called for the Demonstration, including unions, social associations, as well as the two large churches. Politicians from the SPD, Left and Greens had agreed to appear. You all go this afternoon for an “open and free society of the Many” on the road – as it is called in the call to the Alliance #indivisible.
It comes to affordable housing, climate justice, to poverty in old age and feminism. But above all, the topics flight and Migration are to this day, omnipresent. Because they are the fabric that brings the discourse to the Burn, the Pegida and AfD drives, the racism in society is revealed. This discourse does not want to leave #indivisible to the Right. “The prospect of Migration is our common starting point,” says Vincent Bababoutilabo of the Initiative Black people in Germany. “We are not here, we go away. You can’t just stab them and not be bombed out of existence.”
No Incidents
The Demonstration effect of a great Celebration – with a broad selection of music: drum groups and Techno DJs. At the final rally at the Dresden Cocker meadow festival atmosphere. Later in the evening, the Band Silbermon, singer Max Herre and Sebastian Krumbiegel from the Band “The Prince”. Before that, there are speeches. Associations give out stickers, initiatives to collect donations.
Previously, AfD had alleged that the police expect riots on the outskirts of the Demo. The police denied it. In fact, the officials on this day, keep rather in the Background. Of incidents nothing until the evening. “The whole Demonstration was peaceful”, at the end of the day, in the press release of the police of Saxony.
To says the number of participants in the police: “Due to the size of the event we are not able to give a realistic estimate.” Later, the organizers speak of around 40,000 people. But one thing is for sure: There were many.