As last year, the city of Dresden is going to commemorate this year’s anniversary of the air raids 66 years ago, the destruction of the city and the many victims of the bombing . With this symbolic act, participants will deny right extremists access to the city.

TU Dresden rector, Professor Hans Müller-Steinhagen, registered the human chain with the authorities and calls on all citizens of Dresden, but above all students and the staff of TU Dresden and the research institutions outside the university, to join the human chain. „Like my predecessor, I accepted the task of registering the human chain with great pleasure. I do hope that we can get together by joining all democratic forces independently of political parties, institutions and movements and that many people will come to form the human chain on 13 February 2011. The formation of the human chain on 13 February is another chance for everybody to take a stand for joint commemoration and tolerance and to demonstrate that there is a peace-loving community in Dresden.“

Almost 3,600 international students are enrolled at TUD and more than 400 men and women from every corner of the world work at the university. Moreover, many foreign scientists work in the non-university research organisations in Dresden. „All these people came to Dresden with complete trust and enrich our lives greatly. I want to assure them: We are glad you are here!“, which is one of the motivations why Hans Müller-Steinhagen commits himself greatly to the task of the chairman of the human chain. „I myself spent 17 years living in several countries – as a foreigner – and was received everywhere I went with friendship and tolerance. Our foreign fellow citizens and also all visitors and guests of the city should be able to enjoy the same right.“

Please meet for the formation of the human chain at 1 pm at Rathausplatz (the area in front of the city hall). After a brief speech of the mayor, all participants will take their places in the chain.

The symbol of the human chain is the white rose. The TU Dresden has ordered 1,000 white roses. Students and staff members of TU Dresden are invited to get a free rose at TUD-Information, Mommsenstr. 9 (while stocks last).

Go to  http://www.13februar.dresden.de/  for all important information on the human chain.

Information for journalists:
Kim-Astrid Magister
phone 0049 351 463-32398