Antikriegstagsdemo: Frieden schaffen – Aufrüstung stoppen! Gemeinsam für internationale Solidarität und Einhaltung des Völkerrechts

Program:

• 13:30 Kick-off rally at Heumarkt.
• Afterwards joint demonstration with the Rheinmetall Disarm camp to Choldwigplatz and joint rally.
  (The ban on the camp must be revoked, sign here: https://chng.it/WPDkGqLFqb. War is the crime, not antimilitarism).
• Finally: Music and culture for peace on Chlodwigplatz, with live music, peace poems and presentation of political initiatives against militarization in Cologne!

With speeches by:

• Ulrich Schneider, historian, Secretary General of the International Federation of Resistance Fighters (FIR) - League of Anti-Fascists
• Ludo De Brabander, Belgian peace movement (VREDE.be)
• José Nivoi, spokesperson of the Autonomous Dockworkers' Collective (Collettivo Autonomo Lavoratori Portuali, CALP) in Genoa (requested)

Greetings:

• Nicola Casawati, Mayor of Cologne's twin city Bethlehem
• Yuri Starovatych, former Mayor of Volgograd and Chairman of the Volgograd Department of the Peace Foundation. He was one of the initiators of the Cologne-Volgograd city partnership in 1988.
• Israeli peace movement (requested)
• Words of peace from a Cologne contemporary witness of war and fascism

Concert and culture on Chlodwigplatz:

• Presentation of political initiatives against militarization in Cologne and for a city of peace
• Street music group made up of students who want to draw attention to the situation in Palestine
• Cologne city partnership choir
• Magic Darragh, singer-songwriter from Ireland
• Peace poems in Arabic, Persian, Yiddish and Hebrew with German translation

You can find an English version here: Anti War Day 2025 Cologne

Call for Anti-War Day:

"Crudeness does not come from crudeness, but from the deals that can no longer be made without it."
Bertolt Brecht

Dear fellow citizens,

The global arms race and the increasing militarization of societies are currently endangering peace worldwide. They tie up resources that are lacking for climate protection, the fight against famine and for social justice - and fuel new conflicts.

Almost 50% of the federal budget would be wasted on armaments if 5% of gross domestic product were spent on "defense", as the right-wing Trump administration has demanded and NATO has decided.

It is also German weapons that fuel wars and violence worldwide.

We must raise our voices against this!

We call on everyone to join us in demonstrating against the right, for disarmament and social improvement, for human rights and for peace on the occasion of Anti-War Day, the anniversary of Germany's invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939!

On the grounds of an alleged threat from Russia, many states, including Germany, have initiated massive additional spending on weapons, military infrastructure and measures to prepare for war in all areas of society (economy, education, healthcare, etc.).

The German government claims that diplomatic negotiations to keep the peace are not possible and that instead more and more "deterrence", "defense" and arms deliveries are needed. This, in turn, is justified by Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine and the accompanying, so far unsuccessful efforts to achieve a ceasefire or end the war.

These justifications are unacceptable!

How are the rearmament of the FRG and NATO, the delivery of ever heavier weapons to Ukraine and the announced stationing of medium-range missiles in Germany supposed to break the spiral of escalation and end the killing and dying in Ukraine?

Is it really Vladimir Putin's postulated desire for conquest that is endangering Germany, Europe and the whole world, or does the threat not lie rather in the spiral of armament and the associated provocations on all sides?

To what extent have genuinely serious international diplomatic efforts to achieve peace taken place?

Why are people in Germany increasingly being defamed as naive and dreamy if they campaign for peace and peaceful conflict resolution?

We are currently experiencing that the important achievements after 1945: the UN Charter, international law and the International Court of Justice are being disregarded, defamed and sabotaged.

Under the guise of a so-called "raison d'état", the German government continues to support the Israeli regime militarily, economically and politically, although a genocide is being committed against the Palestinian population that is now obvious to all.

Yes, Germany should take responsibility for the crimes against humanity committed during the Nazi era against Jews, Sinti*zze and Rom*nja, Poles, Russians, homosexuals, people with disabilities and political dissidents...

The responsibility to ensure that this never happens again!

The responsibility to uphold universal human rights that apply to everyone!

That is why we demand:

► Disarmament and investment in the global social and ecological future instead of weapons!

► The end of arms deliveries, the expansion of humanitarian aid and initiatives for the reconstruction of all regions affected by war worldwide

► No deployment of US medium-range nuclear weapons and immediate initiative for peace negotiations in Ukraine, for (nuclear) disarmament and common security in Europe with Ukraine and Russia!

►Consistent commitment by Germany to the UN Charter and international law!

►Increase international pressure on Israel to immediately end the genocide against the Palestinian population, terminate the EU association agreement with Israel and recognize the state of Palestine

►Quickest possible adequate supply of food, material resources and medical treatment to the suffering people in Gaza by qualified aid organizations under the leadership/coordination of the UN

►Stop the militarization of society! No to compulsory military service, no to arms research and youth officers in schools, yes to civilian clauses and peace education!

►International cooperation and solidarity for peace!

Come to the Heumarkt on August 30!

Together we will set an example: For a peaceful world - without military logic

"It is not bullets and generals that make history, but the masses."
Nelson Mandela