As of: February 27, 2024, 7:00 a.m
By: Andreas Höger
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Split
Colorful and peaceful: The police assume there were 1,500 participants who came to the “Holzkirchen is colorful” rally in the Herdergarten on Sunday.
Meeting leader Andreas Wolkenstein (r.) was pleased about this response.
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The well-attended rally in Herdergarten is supposed to be just the beginning: The “Holzkirchen ist bunt” alliance, which opposes hate speech and racism, sees itself encouraged to carry its concerns further into society.
Holzkirchen
– The idea caught fire.
Even one day after the rally, which had been prepared for weeks, meeting leader Andreas Wolkenstein was still flooded with euphoria.
“How peaceful and friendly the atmosphere was during these two hours really moved me,” says the 43-year-old Holzkirchner, “a very emotional experience for me.”
With the support of over 30 clubs and organizations, he and co-organizer Ulrike Lorentz, a Protestant pastor in the market town, invited people on Sunday (February 25th) to make a statement for a colorful democracy that allows for other opinions but does not exclude anyone degraded.
Well-known artists such as the Well brothers and Christian Springer performed.
“And the weather helped too,” says Wolkenstein.
Estimates vary as to how many visitors actually came to the Herdergarten.
Christian Gollwitzer, head of the Holzkirchen police station, assumes 1,500 participants.
The organizers even claim to have seen 2,600 visitors.
55 stewards were deployed but did not have to intervene.
“The event was well planned and ran in an exemplary manner,” praises Gollwitzer.
No troublemakers appeared.
Through representatives on the stage, almost all of the local council factions expressed their solidarity with the message of the event.
Only the FWG was not represented there.
A number of small and large donations covered the event budget, which Wolkenstein estimates at up to 8,000 euros.
The Bosch-ITK company from Föching donated 1,000 euros, the same amount came from a private donor.
Wolkenstein emphasizes that the alliance wants to remain active: “It is important to everyone involved to perpetuate the idea.” He could imagine a small cultural festival, and “Holzkirchen is colorful” could also be present at the next winter magic.
It will become clear in the next few weeks whether a club will be founded or whether it will remain a loose working group.
“People have accepted our initiative,” says Wolkenstein.
“I feel a good dynamic.”
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