The occasion is the fifth anniversary of the murder of the Kassel District President Dr Walter Lübcke, who was literally executed in June 2019 in his home town near Kassel by well-known right-wing extremists because of his political views. At the time, the murder of the Kassel government president appeared to be the culmination of a hate campaign that was deliberately stirred up and staged by right-wing extremists, neo-Nazis and representatives of the AfD in view of our country's willingness to help refugees.
Since the murder of #WalterLübcke 5 years ago, we have had to recognize that violence against politicians in the public sphere is on the rise and goes hand in hand with the radicalization and brutalization of language. The number of sympathizers and potential voters of a far-right party continues to rise. Avowed and well-known Nazis are standing in district council elections and, despite their open Hitler worship and their contempt for Europe and democracy, they are being admitted as election candidates, ignoring the usual guidelines. Behind its damaged firewall the republic is recklessly exposing itself and is becoming vulnerable to old and new Nazis. Its robust defences have long since ceased to be taken seriously.
We want to draw attention to all of this with today’s remembrance initiative. At the same time, during the 75th anniversary of the Basic Law, we want to create a mark of remembrance within lively public debate and in the public space.
Date
Sunday, 2 June 2024 10:45 to 11:15 am
Place
Berlin Kurfürstendamm / Corner Joachim-Friedrich-Strasse / Agathe-Lasch-Platz
By symbolically renaming Joachim-Friedrich-Strasse as Walter-Lübcke-Strasse, we are remembering the democrat, German and European patriot and philanthropist Dr Walter Lübcke, who was murdered by a neo-Nazi five years ago today.
Volkswagen trainees from Braunschweig and Salzgitter took part in the remembrance initiative of the International Auschwitz Committee before travelling together to a twelve-day project of the International Auschwitz Committee at the Auschwitz Memorial.
Our campaign calls on cities, municipalities, schools and institutions to take similar, permanent action and, instead of leaving the public space to right-wing extremist haters, to shape it democratically: Face up to all old and new Nazis! Day after day, again and again! There are more of us! And #neveragain is now! The time has long since arrived!
Photos of the remembrance initiative
More on this topic
Report in the Tagesspiegel
