Six years after the racist attack in Hanau, which left nine people dead, Germany is holding nationwide memorial events.
On February 19, 2020, a 43-year-old German man shot and killed nine people out of racist motives, then murdered his mother before taking his own life.
This year’s commemorations include wreath-laying ceremonies at the crime scenes, evening light installations, and similar events across Germany and abroad. Demonstrations are also planned in Heidelberg, Stuttgart, Mannheim, and Karlsruhe.
Minister of State for Culture and Media Wolfram Weimer stated: “Six years after Hanau, we remember those whose lives were violently taken. Their loss still pains us today. We will never forget them. Those who kill people because of their origin attack our open democratic society. We will oppose this firmly and continue to fight racism and extremism.”
The Federal Commissioner for Culture and Media, together with the Cultural Integration Initiative, launched “Hanau Action Day,” focusing on nationwide school art competitions to encourage young people to engage with issues such as antisemitism, right-wing extremism, and exclusion.
Sources – Agencies
