On February 5, 2024, we participated in the “Frankfurt Stands Up for Democracy” demonstration, standing alongside nearly 20,000 participants representing over 100 institutions, organizations, and companies across the Frankfurt region.
Katharina Kaefer, overseeing press, public relations, and graduate education, emphasizes, “Our science thrives on internationality and diversity. We want to set an example against right-wing extremism and for an open society. We condemn all anti-democratic ideas and are really happy to see that so many other organizations and companies as well as tens of thousands of Frankfurt citizens do the same.”
In January, Correctiv, a German nonprofit investigative journalism newsroom, revealed that during a secret assembly, high-ranking politicians of the German right-wing party AFD, neo-Nazis, and entrepreneurs discussed plans to deport refugees and people with a migration background.
In response, Patrick Cramer, President of the Max Planck Society, emphasized in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, one of the major German newspapers: “Today, I urge all those in positions of political and media influence to exercise discretion in their language and refrain from pushing the boundaries of acceptability. Such actions poison discourse, and words often translate into actions. The recent reports of racist attacks targeting international employees at the University of Greifswald demand more than mere contemplation. It is imperative that science and business – indeed, all of us – advocate for an open society.”
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