Massive Protest in Kaarst-Büttgen Publicly Condemns Anti-Semitism, Hostility, and Provocation
In Kaarst, Germany, an outpouring of community support was evident today as numerous residents gathered to denounce antisemitism and champion diversity. The event was instigated by the vandalism of Jewish heritage signs, an incident aimed at obliterating traces of Jewish life in the city. Instead, attendees pledged to illuminate and honor this history.
The "Kaarst is COLOURFUL!" initiative, spearheading the demonstration, brought attention to Kaarst's Jewish past, its former synagogue in Glehn, and the Jewish cemetery. Furthermore, they commemorated the victims of the Holocaust. The movement has proposed the construction of a memorial to victims of National Socialism or, at the very least, the naming of a street after Margot Friedlaender, a recently deceased resident. A citizens' petition for this proposal is expected in the near future.
Timotheus Henke, a member of "Kaarst is COLOURFUL!", expressed the potential benefits: "A memorial would aid Kaarst residents in grappling with our entire city history. Only by understanding the past can we shape the future."
The democratic parties in the Kaarst city council encouraged participation, along with the city of Kaarst. Mayor Ursula Baum expressed therapeutic sentiments, raising the rainbow flag at the town hall and stating, "Every person belongs to Kaarst."
The demonstration garnered support from various associations and religious communities, including the Protestant Church in Kaarst, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat, and the Society for Christian-Jewish Cooperation in Neuss, as well as democratic parties in the Kaarst city council, the Heimatfreunde Glehn, and the city of Glehn.
Representing the mayor of Glehn, Deputy Mayor and Treasurer Thomas Dückers emphasized the importance of continued action against antisemitism, particularly in regards to reaching and educating younger generations.
The bike demonstration aimed to foster connections between Jewish life, victims of National Socialism, and current events, stimulating meaningful discourse. The event came to represent a call for understanding and remembrance, both for Kaarst's past and its ongoing commitment to diversity and unity.
- The "Kaarst is COLOURFUL!" initiative proposed a memorial to victims of National Socialism, or at the least, the naming of a street after Margot Friedlaender, which could aid Kaarst residents in understanding their city's history and shaping its future.
- The demonstration, supported by various democratic parties, associations, religious communities, and city councils, also initiated a call for actions against antisemitism, particularly in the education of younger generations, underlining the need for continued understanding and remembrance of Kaarst's past and its ongoing commitment to diversity and unity.
