Digital and analogue against racism
Ahead of the German federal election, the youth campaign “Wir gegen Rassismus” from Neuwied took a stand in churches and on social media.
The youth campaign of the Diocese of Trier, “Wir gegen Rassismus”, was founded in Neuwied in 2017. Ahead of that year’s federal election, young people and pastoral workers wanted to make one thing clear: you cannot be a Christian and a racist at the same time. In this election campaign, too, the volunteers and staff involved wanted to take a stand. From now until election day, canvases from an exhibition are on show in all eight units of the Neuwied pastoral area — an exhibition in which more than 2,000 people show their face against racism. They include young locals from scout groups and the Catholic Youth, as well as passers-by who took part in a photo campaign on Luisenplatz. There are also well-known athletes such as footballer Erik Durm, decathlete Kai Kazmirek and sprinter Sophia Junk, actress Uschi Glas and bands such as Kasalla and Cat Ballou. Holocaust survivors Margot Friedländer, Esther Bejarano and Charlotte Knobloch had their pictures taken as well, explaining why it matters to learn from the past and to stand up for democracy and humanity today. The exhibition has already been shown in more than 60 places, above all in schools. It is now distributed across the Catholic churches of St. Martin Linz and St. Katharinen, St. Peter und Paul Bad Hönningen, St. Matthias Neuwied and, one after another, all four churches of the Heimbach-Engers parish community, as well as St. Bonifatius Großmaischeid, Hl. Schutzengel Kurtscheid, St. Maria Magdalena Horhausen and St. Clemens Dierdorf. The pastoral workers of the Neuwied pastoral area want to send a signal against racism and for a diverse society.
Alongside this, the “Wir gegen Rassismus” team — which brings together young people of many nationalities and religions — is also active online. On TikTok (@wir.gegenrassismus), Facebook (@Wir gegen Rassismus) and Instagram (@jugendlichegegenrassismus) they are giving a voice, up until the election, to people who experience racism in our society themselves, and raising awareness. In November 2024 the group received the Diocese of Trier’s volunteering award in Trier.
The exhibition can still be borrowed free of charge after the election. For more information, contact pastoral officer Christopher Hoffmann (Christopher.Hoffmann@bistum-trier.de) or visit www.wir-gegen-rassismus.de
Photo: Copyright Simone Bastreri.