President Herbert Hainer: 'Providing impetus and being a focal point'

At the invitation of Mayor Dieter Reiter, around 40 representatives from various areas of Munich's urban society came together at city hall for a "dialogue for democracy and against right-wing extremism", including FC Bayern president Herbert Hainer, who took part on behalf of the club’s ‘Red against Racism’ campaign. Also among those invited were Charlotte Knobloch, president of the Jewish Community of Munich and Upper Bavaria, as well as other figures from politics, culture, business, science, religion and sport.

The participants engaged in an open and constructive exchange of ideas for over two and a half hours. “It was a very good impulse from our Mayor Dieter Reiter to bring people from so many different walks of life together on this important topic,” said Hainer. “As FC Bayern, we want to be an active part of our city, provide impetus with our 'Red against Racism' campaign and offer a point of reference. Our society, our world, is a shell that has become more fragile - we can only protect it together. To do this, we need more cohesion. Sport can convey this. We have to make it clear together that we are more!”

Reiter summarised with satisfaction: “I’m very happy about the great response to my invitation. This alone shows that we can draw on a broad basis in our urban society. The dialogue that began today has shown how important it is to think together about how we can better stabilise the firewall against right-wing extremism.” It has become clear “that there is a very broad consensus in our city against right-wing extremism and in favour of democracy. This consensus is supported by various sectors: civil society, clubs, organisations, trade unions, large companies, cultural institutions and academia. Many perspectives and examples were presented. There was a consensus in the dialogue that a very diverse repertoire of instruments is needed at all levels to ward off right-wing extremism and strengthen democracy.” The mayor went on to say that they had “agreed on a declaration entitled ‘Munich for democracy and against right-wing extremism’”. “This declaration also represents a self-commitment to actively fight right-wing extremism in all places and institutions in Munich.”

At the end of the meeting, it was decided to network even more closely and to continue this dialogue forum. Mayor Reiter: “This dialogue has shown impressively that together we form a firewall for democracy that no one can so easily undermine or bring down." Knobloch added: “Civil society must act to preserve our homeland. It is the fight of all democrats. Our time is running out.”