Defying the rain

Firewall against the right: demonstration marches through Vienna

(Bild: APA/MAX SLOVENCIK)

Once again, several hundred people took to the streets of Vienna to send a strong signal against right-wing extremism. Despite the onset of rain, a number of participants gathered on the Platz der Menschenrechte on Saturday, some of them holding banners to draw attention to their cause.

The procession, to which several organizations had invited, started at Platz der Menschenrechte and is to culminate in an event in the government district with the motto "Defend democracy!". Political support comes from the SPÖ, the Greens and the NEOS.

(Bild: APA/MAX SLOVENCIK)

The platform for a humane asylum policy, which includes Volkshilfe, the anti-racism initiative ZARA and SOS Mitmensch, has invited people to the demonstration.

In addition to the message "Nazis out", the demonstrators' banners also read "Change or it will crash". It remained calm, however, and there was a strong police presence.

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Afterwards, "various sectors of civil society" expressed their demands on a stage on Ballhausplatz. The rally was opened by Volkshilfe director Erich Fenninger. Artists were also in attendance, including castle actress Zeynep Buyraç, musicians Oliver Welter and Roman Gregory and writer Doron Rabinovici.

The event also featured high-ranking political figures. Vice-Chancellor Werner Kogler from the Green Party, SPÖ Chairman Andreas Babler and Stephanie Krisper from the NEOS spoke on stage.