It is "outrageous", if people are attacked today in Germany for openly declaring or showing themselves to be Jewish, said the Chancellor in her address. "That is something I cannot accept. No-one present here today is prepared to accept that."

The rally was intended to "send out the clear message that Jewish life belongs in our country. It’s part of our identity and culture."

The Central Council of Jews in Germany organised a large rally in front of the Brandenburg Gate. The motto was "Stand up! Never again anti-Semitism!". Alongside Chancellor Angela Merkel, top representatives of Germany’s two main churches addressed the rally: Cardinal Reinhard Marx, President of the German Bishops’ Conference, and Nikolaus Schneider, Chair of the Council of the Evangelical Church in Germany. The President of the World Jewish Congress, Ronald S. Lauder, and Federal President Joachim Gauck also spoke.

Taking a stance against discrimination and exclusion

Angela Merkel stressed that there is no place in Germany for discrimination and exclusion. "Anyone who discriminates against or excludes others will find themselves up against me and everyone here, indeed against the vast majority of the people in Germany," she underscored.

The intention, she continued, is to make it quite clear that Germany is aware of its abiding responsibility following the Shoah or Holocaust, that ultimate betrayal of all civilised values, to take resolute action against anti-Semitism or – even better – to prevent it.

"We can see through the perfidious intentions of anti-Semitism: Jewish people are to be made outsiders in our country. And our response is clear: Jewish friends, neighbours, colleagues – Germany is your home."

It is our duty to fight anti-Semitism

"On behalf of the entire German government, I condemn every form of anti-Semitism in either Germany or Europe in the strongest possible terms," declared the Chancellor. She utterly rejected all anti-Semitic comments and attacks. "Not least those witnessed recently at pro-Palestinian demonstrations, which were supposedly criticism of the policies of the State of Israel but which were actually purely and simply expressions of hate directed against Jewish people."

Anyone who uses completely legitimate criticism of political actions – either those of our own country or of the State of Israel – at demonstrations merely as a pretext to give expression to their hate of Jews, is misusing "our precious fundamental rights to freedom of opinion and of assembly".

When Jews are attacked we cannot look away declared Angela Merkel. That is why so many people have come together for this rally. "And not only that – it’s the duty of our state and of every citizen to fight anti-Semitism."

That, she said, is why the German security authorities take every attack on Jews or Jewish institutions very seriously. Anti-Semitic crimes are vigorously prosecuted with the full force of the law. And that also applies to attacks on mosques, the Chancellor underlined.

Preventing anti-Semitism

It is important, however, to ensure that such attacks are not carried out in the first place, said the Chancellor. This is a task for everyone, and a task that calls for courage, everyone’s own initiative, solidarity and tolerance – those values which make a society humane and fit to face the challenges of the future; values which have to be impressed on us all time and again.

The German government is supporting a wide range of activities to this end – especially in work with young people and parents. "For if we want to uproot all forms of extremist and ideological discrimination and violence, we have to start with the family." The German government is also investing in education and promoting memorials.

A home to all of us

The Chancellor stressed that she wants Jewish people to feel safe in Germany. "They should feel that this country is home to all of us, a home in which they, just like everyone living here, have a bright future."

By participating in this rally, all of us are sending an important signal – a signal that we are not prepared to tolerate anti-Semitism, extremism or inhumanity, said the Chancellor. "We’re signalling our respect: our respect for each other’s faith and culture – whether it be Jewish, Muslim or Christian. We are signalling our desire for peace and harmony in our society."