Hometown of Bad Homburg declares opposition to anti-Semitism
Unity March Against Antisemitism in Bad Homburg
Bad Homburg, Germany, witnessed a significant show of unity on August 14, as several mayors of the Hochtaunuskreis and representatives from a Jewish and a Muslim community marched through the city center. The march was a response to the recent antisemitic incidents in the city, including a verbal attack and shoving incident that targeted a rabbi in the city center.
Mayor Alexander Hetjes described the attack as "cowardly and contemptible," emphasizing that it has no place in Bad Homburg. Hetjes has also stated that the incident is not about the Israel-Palestine conflict, but about antisemitism in Germany. He further added that intolerance, hate, and incitement should not be normalized.
The march, which took place in the Louisenstraße, was a show of solidarity against antisemitism. The participants carried a poster that read, "Stand together, show courage, fight antisemitism." The group aimed to send a strong message of unity and support for the Jewish community in Bad Homburg, who have been affected by the recent incidents.
In response to these incidents, city officials have taken several actions to combat antisemitism. They have publicly condemned the attacks, increased police presence and security around Jewish institutions, initiated dialogues with Jewish community leaders, planned educational programs, and provided support services to the affected individuals.
The recent antisemitic incidents in Bad Homburg have prompted a renewed focus on promoting tolerance and understanding within the community. The march through the city center on August 14 was a powerful demonstration of this commitment to fighting antisemitism and promoting unity.
Politics in Bad Homburg has focused heavily on addressing issues of general-news and crime-and-justice, most notably, the rise in antisemitic incidents. Despite the increased efforts to combat antisemitism, recent events such as the verbal attack and shoving incident towards a rabbi, demonstrates that more work needs to be done in promoting tolerance and understanding within the community, as highlighted by the Unity March.
