As of: February 2, 2024, 8:10 p.m
By: Claudia Becker, Alma Bucher
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Many demonstrators came on Friday afternoon to protest against the AfD.
© Claudia Becker
Gilching – The town hall square is filling up more and more.
Around 500 people from Gilching came together on Friday afternoon, February 2nd, to stand up for democracy.
The initiators are all democratic factions of the local council as well as the SMV of the Christoph-Probst-Gymnasium (CPG).
You're not used to seeing so many citizens in front of the town hall.
And yet, around 4 p.m., more and more people of all ages stream in front of the building.
They all have a goal, a reason why they are there this afternoon.
They all say “Yes to democracy!”
No to right-wing extremism!
Democrats stick together,” because that is exactly the motto of the demonstration in the community of almost 20,000 residents.
Right at the beginning, Christian Winklmeier (SPD) enters the improvised stage.
It was decorated with flags of the Greens, CSU, Free Voters and SPD as well as the CPG poster “School without Racism, School with Courage”.
It was only six days before that they decided to show their colors in Gilching too.
The local council explains that they consciously did not seek out the general public, but rather drew attention to this meeting via social networks.
“We all have to pull together,” he quoted a Facebook message as saying.
“It is an important signal that you are there…”
And we stand together in Gilching.
There is clapping and whistling when the respective speakers such as Mayor Manfred Walter or District Administrator Stefan Frey take the microphone in their hands.
The two are particularly happy that so many students are there.
“It is an important signal that you are there, because the future belongs to you and you have to preserve it,” explains Gilching’s mayor.
“We are all here together,” says Anja Kiemle from the Green local board, pointing to the flags of the individual parties.
For them, democracy means treating each other with respect and that is exactly what the people of Gilching want to demonstrate on this day.
Peacefully, side by side, they stand up for their values.
Many people have self-made signs that they proudly hold up: “Hate is not an opinion” or “Against extremism from the left or right”.
Walter also feels the current dissatisfaction of the people in the country, "but that can't lead to voting for Nazis in order to give their party a lesson." In his eyes, these voters don't have the courage to speak the truth that is convincing vote for the AfD.
One should also not make the mistake of thinking that it is a temporary phenomenon.
“We have to keep holding a mirror up to the right-wing extremists.
We democrats have to stick together,” said Walter, addressing the protest voters directly: “The AfD is a dangerous party.” Nevertheless, he looks to the future with confidence and states that the vast majority do not want Nazis to participate in government.
To achieve this, citizens must also stand up for democracy, be it in their clubs or at the ballot box, explains Walter and points to the upcoming European elections in June.
“Let’s say stop.
To those who don’t give a damn about our constitution, we don’t give a damn about you!”
“Have we learned nothing from the past tragedy?” is what District Administrator Frey wants to know from the people of Gilching.
Misanthropy and hate messages are - in times of social media - almost the order of the day.
Hardly anyone shows moral courage and stands up against it.
Frey is all the more pleased about the example that Gilching is setting on this day.
The contemporary witnesses will soon be gone and the past will repeat itself - he doesn't want to believe that.
“Let’s say stop.
To those who don’t give a damn about our constitution, we don’t give a damn about you!”
The youth also have their say at the end, three representatives of the SMV take the stage and speak clear words.
“We have no desire for extremists to destroy our democracy,” they explain.
They know that democracy is not easy - they are currently learning that in school - and they are aware that they are currently growing up in a democracy, but that is not enough for them, they still want to have a democracy in 50 years and that is why they show it yourself today.
“Let’s send the Höckes and Weidels of this world into the desert,” emphasize the three and, at the end of the event, join in the chant “All together against fascism”.