Hand in Hand Against Neo-Nazis
Dewezet
February 15, 2005
By Christa Koch
In spite of pouring rain, over 1000 citizens
Hameln (CK/ube) — The state and national court supported the decision of the city of Hameln to forbid the Hamburg lawyer, Juergen Rieger, to use his building as a meeting hall for right-wing extremists on Saturday, February 12.
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 The protesters formed a ring around the Old City, here in front of the restaurant The green Rider. The protest was peaceful. |
Citizens of Hameln showed their true colors — against right-wing extremists. The youth organizations of all four democratic parties and the Jewish Reform congregation of Hameln appealed to the citizens of Hameln to form a human ring around the old city, symbolically showing that Nazis have no place in Hameln. Shortly before 12 noon, in the pouring rain, the organizers were concerned that the inclement weather would keep the protesters away. But as the Market Church's bells sounded more and more citizens joined the human wall. Each one wanted to show — whether or not the Nazis came — that Hameln wanted no part of them.
On both sides of the main street of Hameln, from the old to the new bridge, people stood, hand in hand.
Many familiar faces were among those who came out to protest — Mayor Rode, city political leaders from all parties, and church leaders. The rain deterred no one who wanted to say loud and clear that Neo-Nazis are not welcome in the city. Approximately 1,250 people took part in the peaceful demonstration, according to police reports.
The protesters continued their peaceful protest at the proposed site of the Neo Nazi meeting hall. The president of the Jewish Congregation of Hameln, Rachel Dohme, spoke to the assembled, “Every person can do their part in fighting right-wing racism. Sixty years after World War II we still mourn the loss of those who were murdered at the hands of the Nazis. We mourn their and our loss.” The Jewish congregation of Hameln hopes that the horrors of Nazism never return. “We must not be afraid to act — we dare not look away when right-wing extremists march through our city. We stand together and shout, ‘Never again!’”
The national court in Lueneburg, basing their ruling on city code violations, supported the city fathers in their decision to forbid the planned meeting of an expected 300 right-wing extremists in the former cinema, now owned by Rieger. Police chief Bernd Wiesendorf explained that the police were ready to prohibit anyone from taking part in the proposed meeting. “No one would have been allowed to enter the building.” The local police were supported by state troopers.
Police inspector Joern Schedlitski said, “Not one person from Juergen Rieger's invited participants came to Hameln.” Rumors that the extremists met elsewhere in the region were not substantiated. The police and the city officials were satisfied that Juergen Rieger's attempt to hold a meeting in Hameln for Neo Nazis was prevented by using democratic means.