Herbert Hainer: Anyone who looks on indifferently is surrendering democracy

In the run-up to the federal elections on 23 February, the Lord Mayor of Munich, Dieter Reiter, has launched the billboard campaign ‘Get out and vote for democracy and human rights’. By his side at the presentation of the first billboard was FC Bayern president Herbert Hainer, who was there to support the campaign. The impetus for the campaign came from the Dialogue for Democracy forum in Munich, which the Lord Mayor convenes at regular intervals in the town hall. With its 'Red against Racism' initiative, FC Bayern is a part of the Dialogue for Democracy in Munich.

"Diversity is enriching - you can see that not only in a sports club like FC Bayern, but in our entire society," Hainer stressed. "We must stand united against divisive forces that undermine democracy. Anyone who looks on indifferently is surrendering democracy to their enemies. What we do today and what we don't do will determine our future. So our appeal is: Get out and vote! Take a stand against marginalisation, for togetherness - and for the values of our democracy!"

Diversity is enriching - you can see that not only in a sports club like FC Bayern, but in our entire society.

Herbert Hainer

Lord Mayor Reiter continued: "Our democracy needs the commitment of each and every one of us. Time and again. So I'm appealing to each and every citizen: get out and vote, vote democratically! There's a lot at stake. The protection of human rights is a central tenet of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Germany. It's not for nothing that the first paragraph reads: ‘Human dignity shall be inviolable’." The Lord Mayor went on to say that this applies not only to people with a German passport, but to all people who live and reside in Germany - regardless of their religion, origin, sexual identity or orientation.

Reiter and Hainer put up the first campaign billboard on an advertising pillar at the Viktualienmarkt in the heart of the Bavarian capital. The initiative will run until election day. A total of around 1000 billboards will be put up throughout Munich. They can also be obtained from fgr@muenchen.de.

The weekend was dedicated to commemorating the Holocaust: