Various protesters, amounting to 100, voice their disapproval against the proposed construction work threatening the Sinti-Roma memorial.
In a powerful display of solidarity, over 100 demonstrators gathered on Potsdamer Platz last Saturday evening to protest against planned construction work for S-Bahn line 21. The protesters, led by the feminist activist group RomaniPhen, claim that the Berlin Senate's decision to choose a construction option that will damage the Memorial to the Sinti and Roma Victims of National Socialism is unacceptable.
The Memorial, a significant tribute to the victims of the Romani and Sinti genocide during the Second World War, was opened in Berlin in 2012. Historians estimate that between 25 and 50 percent of the Romani and Sinti people in Europe were murdered during the conflict.
The construction work for S-Bahn line 21 will result in the felling of nearby trees and long-term changes to the surroundings of the Memorial. The protestors are outraged that Deutsche Bahn, a company with a troubled past in the mass deportation of the Romani and Sinti people during the Nazi era, has been commissioned for the project.
The Memorial's closure is a concern for some activists, who believe that the victims of the Romani and Sinti genocide are sometimes relegated to an afterthought in official commemorations. The protestors argue that the Memorial's disregard in this construction project is a continuation of this unfortunate trend.
While recent local German news sources and official statements from Berlin’s government have yet to provide definitive answers regarding the threat to the Memorial, the issue remains a topic of intense debate. It is crucial to remember that the Memorial to the Sinti and Roma Victims of National Socialism is a vital monument, not just for the city of Berlin, but for the global community as well.
As the construction work for S-Bahn line 21 moves forward, it is hoped that a solution can be found to protect this significant memorial and honour the memory of the victims of the Romani and Sinti genocide. The protestors' call for action serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving our historical sites and ensuring that the lessons of the past are never forgotten.
- The protestors argue that the disregard for the Memorial to the Sinti and Roma Victims of National Socialism in the construction project for S-Bahn line 21 is a continuation of a trend where the victims of the Romani and Sinti genocide are sometimes relegated to an afterthought in official commemorations, which is a significant concern in the realm of general-news and politics.
- The construction work for S-Bahn line 21, commissioned by a company with a troubled past in the mass deportation of the Romani and Sinti people during the Nazi era, has ignited heated discussions in local German news sources and politics, as the threat to the vital Memorial to the Sinti and Roma Victims of National Socialism is a matter of utmost importance to the global community.
