Democracy celebrates: Wiesbaden invites you to the Citizens' Dialogue Week!

Democracy celebrates: Wiesbaden invites you to the Citizens' Dialogue Week!

From February 17th to 21st, 2025, a significant series of events will be found in the future work in the Luisenforum Wiesbaden under the motto "You have the choice! Together for democracy!" instead of. Organized by various actors, including the Office for Immigration and Integration as well as WIF e.V., the series should offer citizens the opportunity to experience democratic processes up close. The event rooms open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. offer interactive stations, information stands, sofa talks and lectures that start from 5 p.m. (registration required). This is done in the context of the upcoming Bundestag election 2025, which gives the occasion a special topicality. The opening takes place on Monday, February 17th, at 12 p.m. by Mayor Gert-Uwe Mende.

An important element of this week is the vigil for the victims of the racist attack in Hanau on February 19, 2020. This event will be organized by the Wiesbaden Alliance and will take place on Wednesday, February 19. In addition, a human chain is planned for Saturday, February 22nd, at 3 p.m. for cohesion, diversity and democracy. Participants also have the opportunity to politicians like Milena Löbcke, Dr. Patricia Becher, Lara Klaes, Sofia Karipidou and Musa Yolver. Further information is available from WIF e.V. - Encounter & Advice in Wiesbaden, which also leads the “Active & Networking” project.

memorial for Hanau: Square of February 19

Another important aspect of democratic commitment in Wiesbaden is the recent decision of the city council to use the place before the "House for Democracy and Diversity" as a central memorial for the nine victim of the Hanau attack. This decision, made on January 27, 2025, ends a long -term discussion about the suitable place for the memorial, which will now bear the name "Platz of February 19". Mayor Claus Kaminsky emphasized the importance of this place for the memory, the memory process and strengthening democratic values.

Originally, the Brüder-Grimm monument was converted into a memorial on the market square, where surviving candles and flowers lay down. However, since the marketplace is closely connected to the Grimm brothers and is used for markets, this location was finally rejected. The new memorial place on the Kanalorplatz was selected in November 2024 after lengthy negotiations with bereaved. This place is strategically between the two types of attacks in the city center and the district of Kesselstadt and thus enables a direct connection to the memory. The draft for the memorial, titled "cut", comes from the artist Heino Hünnerkopf.

democracy and diversity in focus

The city also plans to build a center for democracy and diversity, which is intended to offer space for civil society engagement. The planned concept provides information and advisory services and creates space for conferences and commemorative events. The complete redesign of the area should be completed by the end of 2026.

The importance of reminiscent culture and political dialogues is also discussed in other projects such as the educational association "Art - Space - Memory". This attempts are made to create a relationship between historical issues and the reality of young people. Such initiatives are crucial in order to promote an active commemoration and to promote direct dialogue about the past and the present. Historical learning must always be relevant for the present to develop effect.