People took to the streets in several German cities to commemorate the victims of the far-right attack in Hanau a year ago. Then 43-year-old German Tobias R shot nine people at two hookah cafes in the city near Frankfurt.
Then the man killed his mother and himself. According to German justice, he had extreme right-wing motives.
In Cologne and Frankfurt, not only was yesteryear memorialized, but also commemorated. Activists are calling on the German government to do more to address racism and right-wing extremism. They also believe the government has not done enough to support the relatives of the victims.
Dejected – Depressed
At the official memorial meeting in Hanau, German President Steinmeier said he was “very sad” that the government had been unable to protect the peace and security of civilians. Immediately after the attack, it became clear that the investigation devices had been targeting the perpetrator for a few months but that they took no action.
In his speech, Steinmeier said that the Germans “should not ignore the evil that is in our midst,” but that they also called for “belief in our common strength.”
