// Leipzig, 10.October.2009 -  Leipzig Tourismus und MArketing GmbH

Well over 100,000 people walk the ring road in Leipzig’s city centre

Leipzigers and guests from all over the world commemorate the Peaceful Revolution with a Festival of Lights

More than 100,000 Leipzigers and their guests from all over the world commemorated the Peaceful Revolution during the Festival of Lights 2009. Exactly 20 years after the events of 9 October 1989, citizens and visitors once again walked round the inner ring road arbetween Augustusplatz square and the „Museum in der Runden Ecke“, the former headquarters of the STASI. More than 20 artistic installations along the historic demonstration route evoked the moving events of the time in strong emotions.

The Festival of Lights 2009 had the motto „Change Leipzig – 20^th Anniversary of the Peaceful Revolution and European Unity”. The festival was officially opened on Augustusplatz square by the former Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hans-Dietrich Genscher, Maestro Prof. Kurt Masur, the Mayor of Leipzig, Burkhard Jung, and civil-rights activists Katrin Hattenhauer and Jochen Läßig. People placed more than 20,000 candles on the cobbles in the square to spell out „Leipzig 89“.

„The Festival of Lights and the entire day were deeply moving for me. And to walk peacefully along the ring road with more than 100,000 people was a very emotional experience. The Festival of Lights brought back many memories, and stirred many emotions again. The artists created touching symbols for freedom, democracy and for the crossing of borders that also appeal to the younger generation – especially those who haven’t been there in the autumn of 1989 or have no conscious memories of it. 9 October is a wonderful day, because our memories of it can give us energy and courage. They are proof that nothing must necessarily stay as it is and that social change is possible. Tell this story to your children to make sure that the 'Leipzig spirit’ will be preserved for many generations to come”, said the Mayor of Leipzig, Burkhard Jung, late at night.

Prof. Kurt Masur, former music director of the Gewandhaus zu Leipzig, said at the opening of the Festival of Lights: „I find it very hard to talk now – I’d rather make music. But let me say this: When all the people who are here today would make more deliberate use of the opportunities of democracy, we’d be happier still. We must remember the energy that radiated from Leipzig in 1989. For me, it was one of the most moving periods in my live. I will do what I can for Leipzig – and I would like to ask you to do what you can. This city deserves it.”

The former Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hans-Dietrich Genscher, also addressed the impressive crowd in Augustusplatz: „Thank you for what you have achieved peacefully 20 years ago – with your chants of ‘We are the people’ and ‘No violence’. I would wish that this message of freedom from Leipzig will be heard everywhere in the world. 9 October is one of the most wonderful days in our history of freedom.”

During the Festival of Lights, citizens, visitors, VIPs and journalists from all over the world were treated to elaborate artistic interpretations of themes relating to 9 October that were installed along the historic demonstration route of 1989. Each of the different stations along the route had been given a thematic focus including insecurity, breakthrough, passage to freedom and change. In preparation for the commemoration event, artists from all over Germany had looked into subjects such as freedom, democracy, nonviolence and grass-roots courage and commitment (overall organisation: Leipzig Tourismus und Marketing GmbH, artistic direction: Jürgen Meier).

The Leipzig Festival of Lights 2009 was organised by the city and location marketing department of Leipzig Tourismus und Marketing GmbH (LTM), by the City Council of Leipzig and by the action group „Herbst ’89”. It marked the official conclusion of several festivities commemorating the events of 1989, including a ceremony at Gewandhaus concert hall with the German President, Horst Köhler, Federal Chancellor, Angela Merkel and the Minister-President of Saxony, Stanislaw Tillich.

A Prayer for Peace and a festive concert were held in Nikolaikirche (St. Nicholas’s Church) commemorating this decisive date in the course of the Peaceful Revolution: On 9 October 1989, after Prayers for Peace in four churches, some 70,000 people came together with candles to demonstrate for more freedom in socialist East Germany – despite the danger that firing orders might have been given. To break demonstrations down, the regime had deployed several thousand police officers and soldiers to the city centre. Yet, the demonstration went on peacefully. It marked a turning point in the course of events that later became known as the Peaceful Revolution and that paved the way to the fall of the Berlin Wall and to German reunification.

„As a consistent continuation of the ‘Night of the Candles’, the Festival of Lights was a wonderful emotional and commemorative experience. We would like to thank all partners and sponsors who made this Festival of Lights possible on such a great scale. And we would of course also like to thank the people from Leipzig and from all over the world who have come here today, to commemorate one of the greatest moments of German history, 9 October 1989. As 20 years ago, the footage from Leipzig was seen around the world, so today’s footage will once again reach and touch people around the globe”, said Marit Schulz, Marketing Manager of the city and location marketing department of LTM.

For further information, please log on to www.leipzig.de and www.herbst89.de.