600 people in Rostock take a stand against racism!

600 people in Rostock take a stand against racism!

In Rostock on Monday evening, more than 600 people took the initiative against racism together. Organized by the Rostock Migrant Council and the Rostock Nazi Free Alliance, numerous participants gathered at the Neuer Markt and vented their displeasure about the latest statements by Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Under the motto “We are the cityscape – We are the daughters” they sent a clear signal against social division and the instrumentalization of women.

Maria Lichtermann, the new chairwoman of the Rostock Migrants Council, opened the event with an impressive speech. She criticized the Chancellor's “dangerous rhetoric,” which not only promotes exclusion but also further fuels demographic tensions. In fact, we live in a time in which violence, hate campaigns and the brutalization of political debates are increasingly coming to the fore. The Federal Agency for Political Education has pointed out in its study “The divided middle. Hostile conditions” how right-wing populist parties are bringing issues such as migration and asylum into society and are polarizing an ever larger part of the population.

Clear protest and diverse voices

The speeches during the rally were diverse and addressed the interconnectedness of racism and sexism as well as the misuse of the voices of victims of violence. Speakers such as Flora Menniken, chairwoman of the MV State Women's Council, and Mio from the Left Youth spoke out decisively against the agitation and abuse of victims. Menniken emphatically called for the AfD not to be approached with its own language, but rather to promote respectful and inclusive cooperation.

Among the participants were representatives of the SPD, the Left and the Green Youth. Nevertheless, the CDU was absent, but published an Instagram post in which the rally was classified as “outrage” and “left-wing scandalization”. These reactions illustrate how divisive the political landscape currently is.

Society on the move

The message of the rally was clear and urgent: The problem in society is not the cityscape, but the human image, as Frieda Kopp and her daughter Emma impressively emphasized. Imam-Jonas Dogesh from the Rostock Nazi Free Alliance was also there and criticized the cancellation of important funds for women's shelters and social preventive measures. Another aspect that illustrates the uncertainty of many people is the increase in resentment towards refugees and people of Muslim faith, which is becoming increasingly noticeable in the formulation of the political debate.

The rally itself was largely peaceful, although there were brief disagreements among the demonstrators. Organizers had urged participants to be careful when leaving the city center after groups of right-wing extremist youth were spotted nearby. This event shows once again how important such actions are to take a stand against the progressive division in our society. Solutions must be sought to strengthen social cohesion and defend the democratic values ​​that bind us together.