FPÖ Ash Wednesday

Up to 300 participants at counter-demonstration in Ried

Around 200 to 300 people took part in a counter-demonstration to the FPÖ Ash Wednesday in Ried im Innkreis on Wednesday afternoon.(Bild: APA/Manfred Fesl)

This year's Ash Wednesday event organized by the FPÖ in Ried was once again preceded by a counter-demonstration. Around 200 to 300 people responded to the call from "Omas gegen Rechts" (Grannies against the Right), who wanted to send a "peaceful signal for a democratic and open-minded society".

The demonstrators held up signs reading "Agitation kills", "No human being is illegal" and "As patriots, we don't need right-wing extremists destroying our values". A large banner read "Stand together against the right". According to its own statement, Omas gegen Rechts is a "civil society platform that was founded on Facebook in November 2017." There are now grannies against the right in all of Austria's federal states and in Germany.

The event was organized by the association Omas gegen Rechts.(Bild: APA/Manfred Fesl)

They wanted to send a "peaceful signal for a democratic and open-minded society".(Bild: APA/Manfred Fesl)

The event concluded with a sea of lights on the market square.(Bild: APA/Manfred Fesl)

Rally and sea of lights
On its website, the association called on people to come to the demonstration and the sea of lights on Wednesday from 4.30 pm. Speeches were given by journalist and anti-fascist Hans-Henning Scharsach, writer Sabine Scholl and psychotherapist, theologian and Omas gegen Rechts founder Monika Salzer, among others. According to estimates, 200 to 300 demonstrators joined them despite the rain. They met at Rieder train station and walked to the market square opposite the Jahnturnhalle. "We don't need Kickl, with him there's only Wickl," one poster read.

The program also included a "cultural-political Ash Wednesday", which included the lecture "From old to new? National Socialism and the beginnings of the FPÖ - a search for traces".

With around 2000 FPÖ supporters, the event in the Jahnturnhalle was much more popular. They paid 18 euros admission to hear party leader Herbert Kickl and Upper Austria's Deputy Governor Manfred Haimbuchner, among others. A herring feast and drinks were served.