As of: February 4, 2024, 5:34 p.m
By: Dominik Stallein
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Clear signal: According to the police, 1000 people demonstrated in Geretsried © Hans Lippert
It was the clear signal that the organizers wanted to send: 1,000 people demonstrated in Geretsried on Sunday afternoon
Geretsried – A big commitment was planned – for democracy, for freedom of expression and for human dignity.
The plan worked.
According to police estimates, around 1,000 people attended the rally at Karl-Lederer-Platz in Geretsried on Sunday afternoon.
Passionate appeals and a great commitment: 1000 people against hatred and incitement
They heard organizer Florian Völler take the floor and explain the broad alliance that spoke out against right-wing extremism on the square.
“Every party that stands on the basis of the free-democratic basic order is welcome here.” And no matter how great the differences between the individual political movements are: “Opinions have a place in a democracy” as long as they follow the rules of democracy and respect human rights – something that the AfD does not do.
“We are for democracy – and we are fighting for it,” emphasized Völler.
With the electric guitar against hate speech: Leonie Hahn played at the demo in Geretsried © Hans Lippert
Geretsried: Clubs and parties working together - demonstration at Karl-Lederer-Platz
ASC Geretsried, the youngest football club in the city, hung a poster at PulsG.
“For diversity and tolerance” was written on it.
Board member Tasso Lasidis found it “important that we as an association also set an example and get involved.”
Barbara Unterberger came to the demo from Wolfratshausen.
She has already joined the protest against the AfD in the district over the past weekends - for example at the demo marches through Bad Tölz.
“It’s necessary to show an edge,” she thinks.
“And I believe that it will achieve something.” The AfD candidate was not elected in the district election in the Saale-Orla district in Thuringia; according to surveys, support for the party has declined across Germany in the past few weeks.
All speakers were directed against the AfD by name.
Mayor Michael Müller: “This is the Geretsried we want.
The colorful Geretsried, where we live together peacefully.
We won't let that be taken away from us.
And I thank you for that.” © Sabine Hermsdorf-Hiss
Mayor Michael Müller recalled the history of Geretsried and the city's emergence after the horrors of the Second World War.
“A thriving community has developed,” he said.
The premise: “This city belongs to all the people who live here.” Looking through the crowd in front of the stage, Müller saw young and older demonstrators.
He saw children playing in dragon costumes and a group of young people gathered behind a banner and senior citizens promoting peace with written cardboard boxes.
“This is the Geretsried we want.
The colorful Geretsried, where we live together peacefully.
We won't let that be taken away from us.
And I thank you for that,” he shouted to the demonstrators – who responded with loud cheers.
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“Wonderful sign” against right-wing extremism - 1000 demonstrators on Karl-Lederer-Platz
Wolfratshausen's town hall boss, Klaus Heilinglechner, praised the "wonderful sign" shown by the peaceful demo participants - the commitment is important: "It is up to us what happens next for us and for our children." The visitors to the demo would be against the right-wing form groups.
“Because these groups do not stand for democracy, not for freedom, not for individualism, not for equality.
Anyone who votes for the AfD in protest has not understood our history.” “There is no alternative” to democracy.
“Dragons against Nazis” and “Fairies against Nazis” were written on posters © Hans Lippert
Florian Streibl (Free Voters) campaigns against the AfD: “Peace.
Freedom.
Democracy."
What was clear from the long list of speakers: The Geretsried demonstration was a coalition of various parties and associations.
Ex-SPD city councilor Bernhard Lorenz called on the participants to defend democracy not only on Karl-Lederer-Platz, but also in their families, circles of friends and at work.
Young Green politician Marius Schlosser emphasized that problems can only be solved if people “resolutely oppose the AfD”.
“They don’t want to solve problems – that’s their only reason for being.” The youth representative in the city council, Felix Leipold from the Free Voters, encouraged visitors to get involved politically – “not just complain”.
The parliamentary group leader of the Free Voters in the Bavarian state parliament, Florian Streibl, called out to those present: “Peace.
Freedom.
Democracy: These are not gifts that fell from heaven.
They were fought for.
We don’t want to let that be taken away from us.” Green Party member of the Bundestag Karl Bär summed it up in a simple formula: “Be a human being – that’s what it’s all about.”
Never again: Young Wolfratshauser remembers German history: “Defend democracy”
In addition to politicians, many institutions were represented on the lectern on Karl-Lederer-Platz: speakers from the Badehaus Association in Waldram, the DGB and the Protestant Church came to the microphone.
Joseph Coenen from the Badehaus Association recalled the history of Germany and the Second World War.
“Let us live the never-again (“never again”, editor’s note) and defend democracy.” The young generation, to which Coenen also belongs, must remember how lucky it is to have grown up “in peace and freedom”.
To understand the special nature of this gift, one only needs to look at the situation in many other countries.
There was agreement at Karl-Lederer-Platz that they wanted to support this gift.
Organizer Völler wanted this effort every day: “It’s not a sprint.
It's a marathon.” The spirit of such events must be carried forward.
“We have to show it: We are the people.
We are for democracy.
And we are fighting for it.”