Unser Aufruf

Oldenburg is a city that thrives on diversity—people with different origins, religions, lifestyles, and histories come together here to make their home. This diversity is not a problem, but rather an expression of our open society and our constitution. It is the core of what makes our city strong, vibrant, and ready for the future.

The repeated racist statements by Chancellor Friedrich Merz deliberately reinforce social division and systematically promote racism. Many well-known members of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group are accelerating the shift to the right in society with their exclusionary views and populism.

In politics, racism is increasingly being used as a divisive tool even by centrist parties, who strengthen enemy stereotypes and blame supposed foreigners for existing social problems – much to the delight and benefit of the AfD!

People with a migration history are deliberately portrayed and labeled as a “problem” and a disturbance to the cityscape—a dangerous, racist, and false narrative that attacks human rights and the fundamental values of our entire democracy.

There is more to such words than personal opinion: they reflect the structural racism that is deeply embedded in our societal institutions. Discrimination in everyday life and more difficult access to education, work, and housing are a reality for many.

We need real social solutions that promote equal opportunities and overcome societal divisions! Among other things, this means fair and non-discriminatory working conditions, good education, a humane asylum policy, secure and affordable housing, and lower living costs for all.

Dear Mr. Merz, as daughters and sons—as children of the city of Oldenburg—we say to you: Your plan to play disadvantaged groups off against each other with your statements will fail. A person's value is not measured by their usefulness to the economy, nor by the status of their residence permit.

Oldenburg stands for a society that recognizes diversity as a given. For a society in which the human rights of all are respected. Oldenburg is a city shaped by people from a wide variety of backgrounds – and that is what makes us strong.

That is why we call on all Oldenburg residents, all clubs, religious communities, unions, associations, and democratic parties to join us on the streets on November 2 at 2 p.m. on the station square. Let's make it clear: we will not be divided! We oppose racism, populist propaganda, and policies that promote exclusion.

For a diverse, open, and solidary cityscape in Oldenburg, Lower Saxony, and throughout Germany.

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