As of: February 24, 2024, 9:03 a.m
By: Katrin Hager
Comments
Press
Split
Almost three weeks ago, hundreds came to the citizens' meeting in and at the Gasthof Zur Post in Warngau.
The heated atmosphere has left rifts that many Warngau residents are unwilling to accept.
© Thomas Plettenberg
The loud discontent at the citizens' meeting about asylum accommodation in Warngau has left rifts in the town.
An initiative does not want to accept this.
And show: “Warngau is human”.
Warngau
- Not all visitors were loud at the citizens' meeting in Warngau about the planned asylum accommodation on the Vivo.
Many people quietly followed what was happening - and were horrified at how much aggression was brought into the debate.
Now these people from Warngau no longer want to remain silent, but rather represent their community as they know it: as a village community in which people get along well and stick together.
“Warngau is human” is the name of the initiative.
Around 100 people have come together in a WhatsApp group so far, and around 40 met in the hall of the Altwirt property on Monday after the carnival holidays.
“That’s not typical for Warngau”
Lena Prieger is one of the initiators.
The 47-year-old from Oberwarngau watched the citizens' meeting outside the Gasthof Zur Post almost three weeks ago.
“It was a very loud, aggressive atmosphere with an inhumane tone,” says Prieger, describing her impressions.
“I was totally frightened.” She didn’t feel personally threatened.
“I wouldn't have been afraid to say anything either.
But I know that there were others who felt the same way." The charged atmosphere with whistles being passed out and boos in response to the district administrator talking about human dignity: "So there is no floor left, orderly together to speak,” says Prieger.
“I don’t think that was what most people there had in mind.” Prieger believes that it wasn’t necessarily Warngauer who fueled this mood.
“I don’t know our village like that.
That’s not typical for Warngau.”
Also read: How the asylum dispute is stirring up a community
The “Warngau is human” initiative aims to correct the fatal external impact and bring the polarized place together again.
“Everyone should be allowed to say what they think here,” emphasizes Prieger, who also includes opponents of asylum accommodation.
“There are certainly well-founded fears that can be expressed,” says Prieger.
She can also understand anger at the feeling that decisions are being made over the heads of the community.
“But not in the form of the citizens’ meeting.”
“It’s high time to bring the temperature down”
Prieger believes that there is basically a consensus in the area.
50 refugees were housed in Oberwarngau for seven years until the container accommodation was closed at the end of 2022.
“I can’t remember any incident that would have disturbed the peace in the village.” There has never been a heated atmosphere like this.
You can agree that you find accommodation for 500 people too big.
“If we could reflect on this and speak to one another in the appropriate tone and with respect, a lot would be gained,” says Prieger.
“It’s high time to bring the temperature down again.”
Also read: Integration officer: “Ensure that social peace is maintained”
At the initiative's first meeting, ideas were collected on how to proceed.
It is important to everyone to level the trenches that were opened up at the citizens' meeting.
“Warngau is actually a very livable village with a friendly community,” says fellow campaigner Gisela Spannring (55) from Osterwarngau.
“We don’t want to further divide the village.
We've always gotten along well, and we want that again." Author and filmmaker Tom Dauer (54), who lives on Taubenberg, remains optimistic.
“I believe that the gaps are not that insurmountable.” It is important to talk to each other.
My news
“Holzkirchen is colorful”: Rally for a democracy without hate speech
Defendant denies rape allegations
Wind power in the Hofoldinger Forest: Ex-partner knocks again
Read “Ensuring that social peace is maintained”.
Traffic hooligan (63) goes crazy in a traffic jam: police handcuff him
Porn upload is expensive for Holzkirchner: 27-year-old sentenced read
Warngauers take part in the rally in Holzkirchen
There is the idea of a citizens' meeting only for Warngauer, reports Prieger.
The initiative also has in mind an open letter to the district administrator, “in order to clearly distance ourselves from how he was treated as a guest”.
This Sunday, the initiative is calling for people to show their colors for democracy and fundamental rights at the “Holzkirchen ist bunt” rally.
The meeting point for the Warngau residents is at 2:45 p.m. at the Kulturcafé.
“We have to ensure that the majority is no longer silent,” says Spannring.
However, the volume at the citizens' meeting is not a role model for the initiative.
“We are not against anyone,” emphasizes Prieger, “except against hate speech.”