About exactly a year ago, on December 19, 2021, thousands of people took to the Ringstrasse in Vienna to commemorate the Covid dead with lights. Today, a year later, on December 18th, this spectacle is repeated – but against a different background.
“This time it’s about the right to an inclusive society, and this also includes the right to education,” explains initiator Daniel Landau of #Yeswecare. Cognitively impaired children currently have no right to the 11th and 12th year of education. This would have to be requested separately. “But more and more of these applications are rejected because there are simply not enough places,” says Landau, describing the problem. That’s why you take to the streets, “according to the motto: Disabled are those who are disabled. This is also to be understood as an appeal to politicians.”
For five minutes
From 7 p.m., the police will stop traffic on the Ring for five minutes. “After a sign, we will all enter the road together and observe a minute’s silence,” explains Landau. There will be no speeches – just many lights. “Everyone should bring a candle or turn on the cell phone light to make a strong statement.” All those who can’t make it to the ring or are from further away could also put a candle in the window, says Landau.