To be human in Austria
Being human in Austria was a demonstration in Vienna on August 31, 2015 , at which over 20,000 participants spoke out in favor of changing refugee policy in Europe. The demonstration was privately registered by the Viennese youth worker Nadia Rida and announced on Facebook .
requirements
The call for a demonstration in Vienna included the main demand for human conditions in the Traiskirchen refugee camp , where in the previous weeks there was a dramatic overcrowding and catastrophic hygienic conditions due to the unusually high influx of asylum seekers, the failure of the quota regulations on the part of the federal states and the mismanagement of the Interior Ministry was. The Austrian federal government was specifically requested:
- "To change these inhumane conditions",
- to create permanent quarters that protect against heat, cold and rain,
- provide safe, separate rooms for women and girls,
- to ensure medical and psychological care,
- to seek cooperation with committed associations and social workers,
- no longer rejecting voluntary donors and helpers,
- to provide sufficient food (water, food, baby food).
The reason given in the appeal was: "People who have fled their homes have often lost their families, friends, houses and possessions and are looking for protection and security in Austria and are often in poor condition due to the traumatic experiences." The demand was also raised, “To consciously question the definition of boundaries”. The aim of the event was to demand the responsibility of politicians and the population for humane accommodation of asylum seekers.
The demonstration took place on the eve of the World Peace Day proclaimed in Germany and was given additional topicality due to the refugee tragedy near Parndorf that had become known a few days earlier . The participants were asked to appear in white clothes and bring white flags as a sign of peace.
Registration, route, reaction
The police registration and the announcement of the demonstration was carried out by the private person Nadia Rida, who had brought relief goods to Traiskirchen several times: “I realized how committed many people are. Then the idea for a demonstration came up. ” According to the organizer, being human in Austria should be“ non-political ”. However, some organizations and NGOs - SOS Mitmensch , Asyl in Not , Volkshilfe and Diakonie - supported the demonstration. The group no-racism.net organized a no-border- block and brought in as its own demands the call for the abolition of all borders, as well as an end to global exploitation, arms trade and war. The initiative against inhumanity by the initiators Ernst Löschner and Michael Kerbler also supported the call for a demonstration.
The demonstration was peaceful and the security forces wore their helmets under their arms. The police spokesman emphasized that there were “no security incidents”. During the march, numerous other sympathizers joined, and practically the entire Innere Mariahilfer Strasse was filled with the rally. Partly to the applause of passers-by, the demonstrators headed for the city center, songs like Es starts as well by STS and A Mensch mecht i stayn by Wolfgang Ambros were played. The route had to be changed several times due to the large influx. The rally in front of the Marcus Omofuma monument at the MuseumsQuartier was originally planned to close . Due to the unexpectedly large number of participants, however, the graduation was celebrated in front of the parliament building . The refugee tragedy near Parndorf was also commemorated there. A sea of lights was lit to Georg Danzer's song Give us peace at last .
The demonstration was accompanied by practical solidarity. When it became known on August 31 that the Hungarian authorities would allow refugees to continue their journey from Budapest, dozens of Austrians brought food to the Vienna train stations, where 3,650 refugees arrived in the evening.
The demonstration was noticed internationally, the Austrian media reported in detail and consistently supportive. The next day, Green National Councilor Alev Korun thanked the demonstrators in a parliamentary debate.
Quote
“In view of the situation, we must not lapse into resignation and swoon. We must not become dull, we must unite, because together we are stronger. We can all do something, otherwise we will have failed as humans. "
Other Events
On August 31, 2015, a peaceful, non-partisan demonstration or rally “To be human in Austria” took place in Steyr . In Linz around 2,500 people took part in the white demonstration, which the platform Solidarity Upper Austria had called for. A vigil started in Wels to commemorate the refugees found dead in a truck in Burgenland.
Encouraged by the demonstration “To be human in Austria”, a group of former Syrian refugees called on Facebook under the hashtag #Thank Austria for a march on September 28 in Vienna from Christian-Broda-Platz to the MuseumsQuartier, “for a sign of peace to sit down and bring refugees and Austrians closer together ”. Around 100 participants in the demonstration thanked the refugee helpers and distributed roses and carnations.
See also
Web links
- Photo gallery: 20,000 at a demo against inhumane treatment of refugees , profile .at
- Sarah Wetzlmayr, Erli Grünzweil: Simply being human , Interview with Nadia Rida, The Gap , September 1, 2015, accessed on October 21, 2015
- Anniversary of the demo "Human Being in Austria" , Interview with Nadia Rieda, FM4 , August 31, 2016
Individual evidence
- ↑ Facebook : Call for a demonstration , accessed on September 6, 2015
- ↑ Sarah Wetzlmayr, Erli Grünzweil: Simply being human , interview with the initiator. In: thegap.at of September 1, 2015.
- ↑ a b c ORF : 20,000 people at the refugee demonstration , August 31, 2015
- ↑ SOS Mitmensch : Demonstration on August 31: Humanity must come first again! , August 24, 2015
- ^ Asyl in Not: Mensch sein in Österreich accessed on September 6, 2015
- ↑ Volkshilfe Österreich : Volkshilfe launches platform “solidART for refugees” , accessed on September 6, 2015
- ↑ no-racism.net : Stand up to fight the murderous and racist border regime! , accessed September 6, 2015
- ↑ Against inhumanity: COME ++ PARTICIPATE ++ MAKE A SIGN! , accessed September 6, 2015
- ↑ a b 20,000 demonstrated in Vienna against inhumane treatment of refugees , Der Standard, August 31, 2015
- ↑ Being human in Austria. 20,000 at the demo in Vienna , Kleine Zeitung, August 31, 2015
- ↑ Simon Loidl: The Other Austria , Young World, edition of September 2, 2015, page 6 / abroad
- ^ The Guardian : Vienna stages protest welcoming refugees , September 1, 2015
- ^ Raidió Teilifís Éireann : Thousands demonstrate in Vienna against ill-treatment of migrants , August 31, 2015
- ↑ RT : 20,000 rally to support migrants in Vienna ( Memento of the original from September 4, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , August 31, 2015
- ↑ Noticias terra: Miles se manifiestan en Viena a favor de los refugiados , August 31, 2015
- ↑ Die Presse : Demo in Vienna: “Human dignity comes first” , August 31, 2015
- ↑ The press :Being human in Austria : 20,000 at a demonstration for refugees in Vienna , September 1, 2015
- ↑ Alev Korun in the National Council meeting on September 1, 2015
- ↑ "Being human in Austria" - around 2,500 demonstrating in Linz , lt1.at, September 1, 2015 (video) ( page no longer available , search in web archives ) Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ Several demos against asylum policy from Monday , derstandard.at, August 30, 2015
- ↑ Several demos for refugees in Austria , heute.at, August 31, 2015 ( Memento of December 8, 2015 in the Internet Archive )
- ^ Demonstration “Being human in Austria” on August 31st in Linz. On August 31, 2015, the demonstration “Being human in Austria” took place in Vienna, Linz, Steyr and Wels. Radio FRO, released September 1, 2015 (cultural broadcasting archive). Retrieved August 8, 2015
- ↑ Refugees want to say thank you to Austria , Kurier, September 24, 2015
- ↑ Those affected said “Thank you, Austria!” At the demo , Der Standard , September 28, 2015
- ↑ Further reports: Die Presse , the Kurier and the Kronenzeitung
