As of: February 4, 2024, 1:28 p.m
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Weilheim's Marienplatz has rarely been as full as it was at the demonstration last Saturday.
© Rudder
Weilheim has sent a strong signal against right-wing extremism and for democracy: According to police estimates, around 5,000 people marched from the train station to Marienplatz on Saturday at the “Never again is now – vote for democracy” demonstration.
Weilheim
- Shortly after 2 p.m. the train moves - according to the police it was probably the largest protest action in the district town in more than 20 years - across Münchener Straße towards the city center.
It is led by Mayor Markus Loth, his two deputies Angelika Flock and Alfred Honisch, District Administrator Andrea Jochner-Weiß, Schongau Mayor Falk Sluyterman van Langeweyde as well as event manager Felix Henkel and his deputy Brigitte Gronau.
They carry a banner that reads “Never again is now – vote for democracy.”
When the procession reaches the Protestant Apostle Church, the bells ring.
Before reaching the pedestrian zone, the procession is divided due to the large number of participants and led via different paths to Marienplatz and Kirchplatz.
Ursula Münch was the main speaker at the demo, on the left is the organizer Felix Henkel.
© Gronau
In his welcome, Henkel spoke of a “very strong signal”: “We are standing here today with thousands of people in other cities because there is no other way.” With these subversive fantasies at the meetings of the right-wing extremists, they have crossed the red line.
But Henkel also says that the hand remains outstretched to those who voted for the AfD: "But don't go beyond the point where it goes against our democracy." To great applause, Gronau says, in view of the completely full Marienplatz, that she I couldn’t believe “that we managed to do this in just under 14 days” (see box).
And she announces that the police expect around 5,000 participants - the organizers of “We in Weilheim” had registered 3,000.
Students were also there
Weilheim's mayor Loth also commented on the large number of people: “It makes me incredibly proud when I look at Marienplatz.
Weilheim has stood up.” History teacher Bernhard Kerscher refers to the Basic Law, which states: “All Germans have the right to resist anyone who undertakes to eliminate this order if no other remedy is possible.” And he demands the demonstrators: “Let’s take notice of it.” Students from the Weilheim high school and the private Oberlandschulen Weilheim demand: “We must not allow hatred, agitation, fear and violence to gain the upper hand and destroy our future.” And they mean: “It’s up to us to show backbone.
Let us all work to ensure that history does not repeat itself.”
Many participants had posters and banners with them.
© Rudder
Guest of honor and keynote speaker Professor Ursula Münch shows understanding for people who are dissatisfied with the political parties and the government for a variety of reasons.
“But what I cannot understand at all is that these people believe that an extreme party can solve their problems,” said the director of the Political Academy in Tutzing.
The “AfD and the like” only have one idea – remigration: “That means: exclusion, devaluation, hatred of everyone who is cosmopolitan and tolerant.” The party thrives on the fact that fear is spreading.
At the end of her speech, which was accompanied by much applause, Prof. Münch made an appeal: “Each of us must woo the people who have lost trust in the serious media and the democratic parties - because they are our friends, relatives, acquaintances and colleagues .”
At the end the bells rang
While the first people leave the meeting after the political scientist's speech, Michael Sendl (Biomichl), Walter Hüglin (master painter) and Anne Ertel (nursing director at the Hospital GmbH) appear as business representatives.
All three make it clear that it is absolutely impossible without foreign workers: “Without them, our prosperity is in danger.” The two trade union representatives Karl Musiol (IG Metall) and Norbert Moy (works council at Siemens) also make it clear that the economy immigration is needed.
And they advertise for works councils in companies: “They are a school for democracy.
Anyone who is strong will not become a right-wing radical.”
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At the end of the demonstration, after the short speeches by the Catholic priest Engelbert Birkle and the Protestant pastor Sabine Nagel, the bells ring again - this time they are those of the parish church of Mariae Himmelfahrt directly on Marienplatz.
Ralf Scharnitzky