As of: January 27, 2024, 6:07 p.m
By: Susanne Greiner
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Packed full: Around 2,500 people came to Hellmairplatz for the “Landsberg against the right” meeting on Saturday morning.
© Greiner
Landsberg - Hellmairplatz is rarely fuller than on Ragged Thursday.
The 'Lupido record' was broken by the meeting “Landsberg against the right - your voice for diversity, cosmopolitanism and tolerance” on Saturday morning.
250 people were registered.
At least ten times as many came.
The crowd not only filled Hellmairplatz, there were also numerous listeners on Ludwigstrasse who had followed landsbergbleibtbunt's call for a demonstration against the right.
Among them was Natalie, a woman in her mid-20s, with the sign “I’m staying here”: “I was born here and have never lived in another country.
But I have a migrant background,” says Natalie, whose mother is Japanese.
The “crazy expulsion fantasies” that became known through the Correctiv research scared her: “Not for me, but for my mother, who lives here without a German passport.” She has definitely experienced racism herself, says Natalie.
“But at the end of the 90s I thought, 'Now a different spirit is coming' - a fallacy, as we now see.” She welcomed the fact that so many who had previously remained silent took to the streets.
Problems with wording
All factions represented in the city council had called for the meeting - except for the CSU.
It was said that she was offended by the phrase “against the right”.
According to the CSU, it should have been called “right-wing extremism” instead of “right-wing”.
Nevertheless, there were numerous CSU city councilors in the crowd.
The meeting was also supported by organizations such as the Kreisjugendring, IWL of the European Holocaust Memorial Foundation and the Federation for Nature Conservation. The Riverkings, the Landsberg XPress and the handball players of TSV Landsberg also supported the anti-right demonstration.
Because in no other place does integration work “as quietly and calmly” as in sports clubs, according to the deputy district chairman of the SPD Marcus Noack, a former XPressler himself.
The AfD is stirring up fear, which is why the democratic center has to stand up to “stand up for the best form of government, democracy,” emphasized Green Party state parliament member Gabriele Triebel.
There should be “no more silence, no more sugar-coating and no more relativizing.”
“As far as I can see, the red line has long been crossed here in Bavaria.” Violinist Monika Drasch also referred to the Bavarian Constitution and the Basic Law – singing, of course, and in the chorus together with the audience.
Respect for democratic values
Landsberg's third mayor Felix Bredschneijder (SPD) was visibly moved as he looked at the crowd from the Rebelz Sound Truck stage.
They didn't expect so many - "but everyone here is completely relaxed," which is why the police see no reason to break off the meeting with around 2,500 participants.
“Democrats don’t have to agree,” emphasized Bredschneijder, referring to discrepancies between the parties.
“But we have to have respect for each other, respect for democratic values.” He thanked everyone “from the bottom of my heart: today is a sign that we need to keep going.” Because demonstrating alone, said Bredschneijder and all the other speakers , will not be enough in the long run.
Or as Lino Sliwinski from the LGBTQ+ association VIDA Landsberg put it: “Be loud and open your mouth when someone spews right-wing crap.”
Rolf Kron, anti-vaccination activist and Monday walker (who marched through the old town with farmers last week), had previously posted a photo of himself on Telegram.
He is now going to the demonstration against the right, “just to look”.
The Kauferinger was holding a chainsaw in his hand.