Hamburg wants to send another strong signal of solidarity with the people of Ukraine today: tens of thousands are expected to demonstrate in the city center under the motto “Peace in Ukraine and security in Europe”. The MOPO is on site and accompanies the protest in the live ticker.
– We do not yet have reliable estimates of the number of participants. But there are thousands who are currently demonstrating in downtown Hamburg.
– Bishop Kirsten Fehrs also speaks at Jungfernstieg: “We are sad, shocked and angry at Putin! Stop the madness! No to war!” she says. Ukraine is a bleeding wound on the body of Europe. “War is a blatant injustice. We have achieved nothing with words, but with signs. And these people here are a sign that we are doing everything we can to help bring about peace. Don’t let hate into your heart. God bless you. God bless everyone with resourcefulness and the courage to live in peace.”
– “Hamburg is a safe haven for refugees from Ukraine, regardless of skin color and nationality,” says Katharina Fegebank. She expressly supports the fact that Germany is supplying defense weapons to Ukraine. “We have to make ourselves independent of gas, oil and coal from Russia. Climate policy is security policy,” said the deputy mayor.
– Hamburg’s second mayor Katharina Fegebank (Greens) is enthusiastic about the huge participation in the demo: “Wow! So many people, so much yellow and blue, the colors of freedom and democracy!”
“So many people are saying: stop Putin’s war! Putin is not Russia. Our thoughts are also with the people who are taking to the streets in Russia today and are risking their lives,” said Fegebank in her speech. The autocrat Putin has become a war criminal. “We are appalled, but not inactive. We stand together for democracy, freedom and justice.”
– Social Senator Melanie Leonhard (SPD) also gives a short speech: “We are shocked every day by the pictures of the people who bravely oppose the troops,” she says. And in the direction of the Russian President: “Putin, it’s in your hands, end the war. Leave alive the people fighting for their freedom and ours!”
– Before the demonstrators set off, there will be an opening rally on Jungfernstieg, at which members of the Ukrainian diaspora will speak, among others. “We are demanding the end of town twinning with Russian cities,” says a speaker. His dramatic appeal: “Don’t underestimate Russia! At the moment Ukraine is defending Europe. If Ukraine falls, war will come here.”
– It’s jam-packed on the Jungfernstieg and on the trains – many are still on their way to the demonstration. At the beginning there was a minute’s silence shortly after 12 noon for the victims of the Russian war of aggression.
– The planned course of the demo: From Jungfernstieg it should go via Ballindamm, Glockengiesserwall, Steintorplatz and Kirchenallee in the direction of the main station, then continue along Ernst-Merck-Straße in the direction of Alsterwiese Schwanenwik. There on Mundsburger Damm is the Ukrainian consulate general, the target of the demo.
You might also be interested in: Current information on the Ukraine war in the live ticker
– The organizers expect up to 50,000 participants. The police advise traveling to the demo by subway and S-Bahn. If you are traveling by car today, you should drive around the inner city area.
– There should be speeches from Bishop Kirsten Fehrs and Hamburg’s second mayor Katharina Fegebank (Greens).
– At 12 o’clock the big demo at Jungfernstieg is supposed to start. The protest is organized by the Ukrainian diaspora, supported by numerous youth organizations, parties, trade unions and civil society organizations. It is the second major demonstration this week: Tens of thousands demonstrated on Thursday for the peace.
