A vigil for refugees Protesters in Bonn on night shift
Bonn · The participants of a vigil on the market place in Bonn have been drawing attention to the situation of refugees at the borders of Europe since Saturday – 24 hours a day.
The protesters brought wood for the nights. They light a fire in a barrel with it. Since Saturday they have been holding a vigil in the market place to draw attention to the suffering of refugees on the borders of Europe. In Greece alone, more than 40,000 people are waiting. Some camps had been sealed off in recent weeks because people there had become infected with the corona virus. Those who are stuck there have little chance of protecting themselves.
"Stop the dying" demands a poster hanging in the market place. There's someone there around the clock. The 50 or so volunteers could sign up for shifts in the tent. The vigil was organised by the Bonn Action Alliance for Boundless Solidarity, which is made up of various groups – including the Seebrücke, Sea Eye, Ende Gelände and AusgeC02hlt.
Alliance calls on city to take a clear position
On Tuesday morning four young women sit on the sofas and chairs in the tent. One of them is Ida Hömberg, who is in charge of the alliance's press work. In view of what has changed in recent months regarding the situation of the people in the camps, she says: "The pressure on politicians doesn't seem to be that great. I have a feeling they intend to sit this one out." In mid-April, the federal government brought 47 children and young people from Greece to Germany. "As if that was enough. This is symbol politics," Hömberg says.
At the beginning of April, Mayor Ashok Sridharan had already signalled the city's willingness to accept up to ten unaccompanied minors in a letter to aid organisations. Still none arrived to Bonn. "The country has not yet assigned us any," the press office said.
According to Hömberg, the alliance considers it the city's duty to take a clear position and take in more refugees. They often received positive reactions from passers-by in the market place. But it also happens that from time to time people shout slogans into the tent as they pass by. "Such prejudices get to the root of the matter," says Hömberg. Why did they actually decide to demonstrate 24 hours a day for a week? "To draw attention to how drastic the situation is," says Hömberg. One of the shifts starts at 9 pm in the evening, then there is a change every four hours, at 1 am and then again at 5 am. What do you do in the marketplace at 4 o'clock? "Good question," says Hömberg. "I wasn't here at that time myself."
In times of Corona special rules apply to demonstrators as well: More than four people are not allowed in the tent at a time. They must keep a distance of one and a half meters between themselves and passers-by. They may only display flyers, not hand them out. The campaign event ends on Saturday. Until then the protest does not sleep – or only a little.
(Original text: Dennis Scherer, Translation: Mareike Graepel)
