As of: February 11, 2024, 8:53 p.m
By: Katarina Amtmann
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The Theresienwiese in Munich is the location for a demonstration against racism.
© Karl-Josef Hildenbrand/dpa
There were more participants than announced at the “Sea of Lights for Democracy” on Theresienwiese.
The protest against racism has now ended.
Update, 8:50 p.m.:
The demonstration has now officially ended.
The Munich police explained this on Platform X and wished all protesters a safe journey home.
Update, 8:10 p.m.:
According to initial police reports, over 75,000 people gathered on Theresienwiese to protest against racism, anti-Semitism and hate speech with a “sea of lights for democracy”.
Some protesters decorated themselves with fairy lights, while others carried lanterns or flashlights.
The organizers of the event estimated the number of participants at 300,000.
The Theresienwiese, known as the site of the annual Oktoberfest, lit up brightly.
The human rights activist Düzen Tekkal explained that it would be bright in people's minds.
In her speech, she appealed for unity for democracy and warned against getting lost in individual interests.
“We will not allow people in our country to be excluded and persecuted.
We defend ourselves against right-wing extremism and disgusting deportation fantasies.
The silent majority is no longer silent!” was the call for the demonstration, which was launched by the Fridays for Future movement and supported by a broad alliance from civil society.
Demo on Theresienwiese: Mayor Reiter comments
Update, 7:45 p.m.:
Mayor Dieter Reiter has now also commented on the demo on Theresienwiese in Munich.
“The defense of our democracy, our values and our freedom remains unwaveringly strong!
Crazy today: More than 100,000 people on Theresienwiese.
Thank you Munich!” he said.
“This sent another huge signal from Munich, a clear signal against right-wing activities, against hatred and agitation.
This evening on the Theresienwiese I met people of all ages and from very different social groups.
We all have a goal and that is encouraging!
Thanks to the broad alliance that put together the demonstration today.”
Sea of lights against racism on Theresienwiese: Organizers are apparently talking about 300,000 participants
Update, 7:05 p.m.:
The Theresienwiese in Munich, where millions of people usually flock to the Oktoberfest, is not that full this Sunday evening, but the participants in the Sea of Lights demo are clearly filling the festival meadow.
According to some users of Platform
The demonstration against the right had already exceeded the registered number of protesters in January.
At that time, 100,000 people took to the streets and the demonstration had to be stopped due to overcrowding.
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Demo against racism: Theresienwiese in Munich is filling up
Update, 6:25 p.m.:
The demonstration against racism in Munich is now in full swing.
The mass of people and the sea of lights, which is the motto of the protest, can be clearly seen via the wiesn.tv webcam.
20,000 to 30,000 participants were registered.
It is not yet clear whether this number will be exceeded.
First report from February 11th:
Munich - So many people came to the last anti-right demonstration in Munich that the event had to be canceled.
Now there is a new attempt.
There is plenty of space this time.
“Sea of Lights for Democracy” in Munich: “Defend ourselves against right-wing extremism”
Several tens of thousands of people are expected to attend a “Sea of Lights for Democracy” in Munich on Sunday (6 p.m.) to take a stand against racism, anti-Semitism and hate speech.
“We will not allow people in our country to be excluded and persecuted.
We defend ourselves against right-wing extremism and disgusting deportation fantasies.
The silent majority is no longer silent!” says the call for the demonstration, which was initiated by Fridays for Future and is supported by a broad civil society alliance.
The demo at the end of January was bursting at the seams, there is now more space at the “Sea of Lights for Democracy”.
© Karl-Josef Hildenbrand/dpa +++ dpa-Bildfunk +++
The event is intended to be the starting signal for further actions throughout Bavaria and to demonstrate that civil society protects democracy, as formulated in the call.
According to the district administration department, the private person who registered said the demo would have 20,000 to 30,000 participants.
However, the police are preparing for the fact that significantly more citizens could flock to Theresienwiese - the place where Oktoberfest usually takes place.
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“Sea of Lights for Democracy” in Munich on Sunday evening
Participants are encouraged to bring flashlights, glow sticks, lanterns and other light sources, a nod to the “Lights” of 1992, when more than 400,000 people marched through Munich with candles and other lights following a wave of right-wing extremist violence in reunified Germany.
At the end of January, over 100,000 people protested against the right in Munich.
However, the rally had to be ended early due to overcrowding.
The joy over the large crowd was also mixed with criticism because parties such as the CSU, SPD and the Greens were denounced as right-wing in speeches.
This time it should be different
.
(came/dpa)
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