Social Justice Activists: “We Can’t Afford the Rich Anymore”
Created: 07/16/2022, 22:21
By: Sandra Kathe
With a demonstration from Westerland to Kampen, hundreds of activists vented their anger at the super-rich.
© Daniel Bockwoldt/dpa
With the demand for the redistribution of wealth, activists on the North Sea island of Sylt have invited to a protest under the motto "Enter Sylt".
Westerland – On Saturday (July 16), between 400 and 500 mostly young people drew attention to the differences between rich and poor on Germany's northernmost island and called for more social justice.
According to information from the police, the demonstration, which led from the island's main town of Westerland to the rich stronghold of Kampen, was largely peaceful.
For the event under the motto "Sylt Entern!
Make The Rich Pay” deliberately invited the North German action alliance “Who has, who gives” to the island, which is often seen as a clichéd celebrity paradise and holiday destination for the rich.
For many, Sylt, with its sometimes exclusive holiday homes, is synonymous with aloofness and wealth and once again hit the headlines nationwide at the beginning of the month due to the wedding of Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP).
Activists call for the redistribution of wealth at a demonstration on Sylt
The demands of the action alliance include a one-off wealth levy to cover the costs of the Corona crisis, the reintroduction of wealth tax and an increase in the top tax rate for particularly high incomes.
Other wishes on posters and in speeches were the abolition of international tax havens and higher taxation of large inheritances and gifts.
The activists had written the words “We can no longer afford the rich” on several banners and posters.
Her reasoning: "On Sylt, the rich cheer for achievements that they have not made and inherit money that they have not earned".
The high cost increases for energy, fuel and food recently revived the political debate about growing poverty and social responsibility.
"Entering Sylt": Demo for more social justice should set an example
According to reports from the police, who had a visible presence on the island, the demonstration was mostly quiet.
The only incidents occurred when some participants lit smoke pots and one participant at a rally in the evening in front of the town hall in Westerland, drunk, dropped his clothes and was taken into custody under protest.
The supporters of the action alliance include the members of the left in Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein, the Fridays for Future group in Flensburg and the AStA of the University of Hamburg.
(ska/dpa)
